Stan Van Gundy “about 99.9 percent” sure the Pistons won’t deal Greg Monroe

Stan Van Gundy via Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News:

"“It’s not gonna happen,” Van Gundy said Wednesday. “I don’t know where Greg’s head will be in the offseason, but we’re still hopeful of Greg Monroe for the long term. And with him going into free agency, you won’t get a lot, maybe a pick. I’m not gonna walk in that locker room and give up a piece like that and then tell the guys we’re trying to make the playoffs. They deserve the chance to ride this out. You never say never to anything, but I can tell you about 99.9 percent, Greg Monroe’s not going anywhere.”"

Wojo makes some good points throughout that column, but Van Gundy pretty much let his mindset known with that quote — he still wants to win now.

That’s no surprise. We pretty much knew that already, and we also knew that Greg Monroe still probably doesn’t know what he’s going to do this summer. I think that’s reasonable, it’s a big decision.

If the Pistons make the playoffs and re-sign him, great.

But the issue today isn’t whether or not Monroe walks away in five months, it’s what his value is today versus what it is in July. After signing his qualifying offer in the summer, Monroe owns the right to veto any trade this season since he would lose his bird right and, in layman’s terms, the chance to really cash in with a maximum $80ish-million deal.

So, yeah. That makes it a hell of a lot harder to trade him. Not only is he going to be a rental player for 30 or so games, but he’s also going to be one who you can only trade to certain teams. The Pistons are better off playing this out and going for the postseason, and Van Gundy said as much.

“Making the playoffs would be a tremendous thing for this organization, and we want to do everything we can to get that done — but without compromising our future,” Van Gundy told the Detroit News. “You’re not gonna see us tanking. But at the same time, you’re not gonna see us give up a first-round pick or two second-round picks to bring in a guy who maybe gives us more depth, but is a two-month rental.”

Even if Monroe still wants to leave this summer, you have the opportunity to attempt a sign-and-trade where you’ll get value. It’s a risk, but what is his value right now? Little-used rookie Adreian Payne just yielded a (heavily-protected) first round pick when he was sent from Atlanta to Minnesota.

Monroe is surely worth much more than Payne but, considering his status, are the Pistons going to get anything better than an unprotected pick? Especially a pick that probably belongs to a good team picking late in the first round?

It’s not like teams are just giving out talented, young small forwards — like the Pistons desperately need — either.

I think the logic behind Van Gundy saying he’ll likely keep Monroe is 99.9 percent because he wants to make the playoffs and milk this team for all it’s worth right now.

But I think the other 0.1 percent is the simple fact that there aren’t any Monroe trades out there that will come close to giving the Pistons anything in return.