Looking back at an article written up a month ago on the top free agents the Knicks can realistically acquire this summer, the landscape of the NBA has completely changed with the flurry of trades on the NBA trade deadline.

Player’s situations has changed, some effecting the Knicks negatively, some positively. For example, Goran Dragic is off the board now that he landed in one of his desirable destinations that were on his wish list when he demanded out from the Suns. Conversely, Rajon Rondo being traded the Mavericks earlier this season seems to hit a road bump, the stubborn point guard had a shouting match with his head coach, and this could open up an opportunity for New York to swoop in and snatch up Rondo this summer.

Re-examining the list of top potential free agents this summer as per HoopsHype.com, Greg Monroe’s situation seems to make the most sense for New York. Monroe is an unrestricted free agent, and can outright walk away from Detroit. Also there were reports of Monroe being unhappy with his situation in Detroit from The Detroit News after a couple of 20 minute games. When questioned about the limited playing time Monroe said

“Some people would say either or, have different opinions on it. I always felt like any coach would do what’s best for the team, I don’t think any coach is trying to lose the game,” “Whatever he saw, he thought would help us or be beneficial for us to win the game, and that’s what he chose to do.”

In the same article Vincent Goodwill Jr. of The Detroit News had this to say.

“Monroe, 24, appears likely to walk away after the season as an unrestricted free agent, after the Pistons failed to reach a long-term agreement with Monroe this past offseason. They decided not to sign-and-trade him either, which seemed to be a preferred option for Monroe.”

If New York were to pursue Greg Monroe this summer, would his game be a good fit with Carmelo Anthony?

Monroe is one of the true low post big man we have in the game today, ranking third in total amount of possessions a player post-up with 396 times as per NBA.com. Monroe only trails Al Jefferson and LaMarcus Aldridge in this category, with Jefferson leading the pack by far with 504 post-up possessions, and not far behind Aldridge with 430 post-up possessions. Monroe takes 63.41% of his shots in the restricted area, and 28.69% of his shots in the paint (non-restricted area) as per NBASavant.com.

Monroe’s post-ups are beneficial not only in the traditional sense, that it will create double-teams and then lead to kick-outs to an open man on the perimeter, but it also forces Anthony to post-up a little less. As deadly as Anthony’s mid-post game is, less can be more. Hypothetically if Monroe is posting up, Anthony would have to be around the perimeter more.

In the 2012-2013 season, where Anthony finished third on the Most Valuable Player award ballot for leading the most successful season New York have seen in over a decade, Anthony shot less mid-range than compared to this season (the worst Knicks’ season ever)… In the 2012-2013 season Anthony took 40.13% of his shots from mid-range as per NBASavant.com, as compared to this dreadful season…where mid-range shots made up 45.78% of his attempts. Watching Anthony pound the ball to submission in the mid-post was not pleasant this season…

Ideally with Monroe in the post, it would also lead to more three-point opportunities for Anthony. Again in 2012-2013, where Anthony was a candidate for Most Valuable Player award, Anthony attempted a career high 6.2 three-pointer per game, this is almost doubled Anthony’s career average attempt per game of 3.2 three-pointer per game.

The downside to signing Greg Monroe though, is that it would replicate the same issues New York had with Amare Stoudemire, Monroe is not reliable on the defensive end. Monroe is averaging the lowest blocks per game in his career so far this season, at .4 blocks per game. Not that it is lower by much, with a career average of .6 blocks per game; Monroe never really intimidated anyone from the paint.

As per NBA.com Diff% which is defined as – The difference between the normal field goal percentage of a shooter through the season and the field goal percentage when the defensive player is guarding the shooter. A good defensive number will be negative because the defensive player is guarding the shooter. A good defensive number will be negative because the defensive player holds their opponent to a lower field goal percentage than normal. Monroe barely moves the needle on defense, with a -0.9 diff% shots within six feet, and -0.3% on two pointers.

Just for comparison Roy Hibbert by the same metric is a -12.3 diff% on shots within six feet, and a -8.8% on two pointers. The up and coming sophomore sensation Rudy Gobert is -14.8diff % on shots within six feet, and -8.5% on two pointers as per NBA.com. Currently Andre Drummond helps clean up some of Monroe’s mess, but as it stands there is no one on the Knicks roster that can do the same.

It would be interesting to see Anthony and Monroe paired up together, but it is in no way a slam dunk. Offensively, it can be potentially successful, defensively…it might be a struggle.