NBA Rumors: Pistons’ Demand For Jeff Teague, Kyle Korver Prompts Hawks To Back Off From Greg Monroe Pursuit

By Staff Reporter | Dec 19, 2014 06:32 PM EST

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The Detroit Pistons can't still find a trade partner for forward Greg Monroe, expressed his objections to any trade as he desired to play out the season in a qualifying contract. According to Vincent Goodwill Jr. of Detroit News, the Pistons could have avoided this predicament should they have asked a lot in exchange for Monroe last summer.

In his latest report, Goodwill indicated the Pistons were on verge of hammering a deal that would have sent Monroe to the Hawks. Unfortunately, the Hawks backed out from the deal after the Pistons asked starting point guard Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver as compensations for letting Monroe walk away.  

"The Pistons wanted point guard Jeff Teague and sharpshooter Kyle Korver in return for Monroe, and the Hawks balked - perhaps with knowing Monroe could walk to them the summer of 2015, right into their cap space without having to part with valuable assets," according to Goodwill.

Monroe, who is averaging 14.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game this season, has been drawing enormous trade interest from multiple teams, but all of the suitors are meted with the same pricey demands being asked by the Pistons (young players or a first-round pick).

Aside from Monroe, the Pistons have also made forward Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings available on the trading block. Smith has been tradable ever since he landed a four-year, $54M deal with the Pistons, while Jennings' stint has only produced disappointments for the fans in Detroit.

"The Sacramento Kings are still interested in Smith, a source said. The man with final say, Van Gundy, turned down the Kings proposal over the summer - one that amounted to a pu pu platter of talent relative to Smith's, as he wanted a chance to see if he could unlock all of Smith's versatility and turn it into consistency," according to Detroit News via Slam Magazine.

Sources close to situation indicated that Kings owner Vivek Ranadive has been lobbying to acquire Smith way back during the offseason, and the desire to get the versatile big man becomes even more a priority after missing on Rajon Rondo.

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