HoopsHype.com Rumors

The Pistons are actively looking for a big man, but more than likely you will see a veteran's minimum type at some point. What about the trade market? The Pistons are not trading their two most valuable commodities -- Knight and second-year big man Greg Monroe. Other players who other teams might want -- Tayshaun Prince, Rodney Stuckey and Jonas Jerebko -- were their own free agents and the Pistons just re-signed them, taking them off the market for now. Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons, Free Agency, Trade, Greg Monroe, Tayshaun Prince, Jonas Jerebko, Rodney Stuckey 

Jason Quick: Oden looked fit and walked w/o limp. He has a full day of tests and exams ahead of him by the doctor who performed last Nov microfracture. Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Greg Monroe 

They can't get into Target Center these days, so NBA stars John Wall, Joakim Noah and DeMarcus Cousins are among those expected to play in Timberwolves forward Michael Beasley's "All Star Classic" at Osseo High School -- of all places -- next week. Beasley's Wolves teammates Derrick Williams, Wes Johnson, Martell Webster, Wayne Ellington and former Wolf Sebastian Telfair are scheduled to play as well in the Friday night, Oct. 21 exhibition game. So, too, are Boston's Jeff Green, Detroit's Greg Monroe, L.A. Clippers' DeAndre Jordan, Chicago's Keith Bogans and Beasley's longtime pal, former Dukie Nolan Smith. Missing from the list -- at least for now -- is childhood buddy Kevin Durant. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Kevin Durant, Michael Beasley, DeMarcus Cousins, John Wall, Greg Monroe, Martell Webster, Lockout, Keith Bogans, Joakim Noah, Jeff Green, Sebastian Telfair, Marcus Cousin, Wayne Ellington, DeAndre Jordan, Derrick Williams, Nolan Smith 

Greg Monroe: This lockout is really startin to become foolish if u really think abt it! Twitter

Detroit Pistons, Greg Monroe, CBA, Lockout, NBPA 

It's not every day that one discovers a wallet belonging to a National Basketball Association player. Georgetown University student Ed Shehwen did just that last week on Prospect Street, where he found the wallet of the Detroit Pistons' Greg Monroe. Shehwen's friend, Chris Scribner who lives in one of the apartments at Halcyon House, tweeted the former Hoya Big East rookie of the year to come get his wallet. It took a few tries to convince Monroe, who is taking summer school classes at Georgetown University. The six-foot-11-inch tall basketball player pulled up in his BMW and thanked his fellow Hoyas for the find. Monroe (G_Monroe10 ) tweeted: huge s/o to @CScribs and his friends! #superclutch . Georgetowner.com

Detroit Pistons, Greg Monroe 

When talking with Pistons big man Greg Monroe, it doesn't take long to realize he's a bright and thoughtful fellow. So it wasn't surprising when he offered some sobering reality on the situation now that he knows Lawrence Frank will be his next coach: He can't wait to work with him, but the NBA lockout must end first. According to a person familiar with the deal, Frank reached an agreement Friday to become the team's sixth coach in 11 seasons. He'll receive a three-year contract with a team option for a fourth year. After the introductory news conference for Frank, he won't get a chance to work with the team's collection of young talent until the lockout is over. Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons, Greg Monroe, Coaching, Lawrence Frank 

The labor impasse will enter its second month Monday and puts next season in jeopardy -- or at least part of it -- if a deal is not reached. Monroe admits the situation is a complete departure from last year when -- fresh from Georgetown -- he worked extensively with the staff of former coach John Kuester and strength and conditioning coach Arnie Kander. Now, the Pistons can't have any contact with players. And it feels strange to Monroe. "It's kind of odd, because at this time is when coaches tell you what to work on, but that communication with the coach is missing," Monroe said Friday in a phone interview. Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons, Greg Monroe, Coaching, Lawrence Frank 

Vincent Ellis: Reality from @Greg Monroe: "I'm just like everyone else; I'm just hoping we can get the lockout over with so we can start working with him." Twitter

Detroit Pistons, Greg Monroe, Coaching, Lawrence Frank 

Celtics swingman Jeff Green and fellow Georgetown product Greg Monroe gave pointers to 10 Marines from the Wounded Warrior basketball program before their game on the south lawn of the White House on Wednesday. President Barack Obama also made an appearance, according to the White House blog. No word on whether Obama challenged Green to a game of 1-on-1 (insert joke about how the Celtics would be better off with the President on their roster). WEEI.com

Boston Celtics, Greg Monroe, Jeff Green, Barack Obama 

Add Greg Monroe and Greivis Vasquez to the growing list of NBA players actively debating whether to take their basketball talents overseas. The former stars at Georgetown and Maryland, respectively, did not figure to be contemplating playing abroad after successful rookie seasons. Funny what a lockout can do. They also were not the only ballers in the Kenner League weighing foreign options or actually following through with them. csnbaltimore.com

Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies, Greg Monroe, Greivis Vasquez, Lockout 

“It’s something I’m still thinking about," said Monroe, who shined for the Detroit Pistons last season. "It’s definitely an option.” csnbaltimore.com

Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies, Greg Monroe, Greivis Vasquez, Lockout 

Then there’s Vasquez, the Venezuelan native who is heading home next week to play for his country’s national team. Forget whether the combo guard for the Memphis Grizzlies is more inclined to ponder an overseas business sojourn than his American counterparts. Vasquez acknowledges that to be true in part because he is. “Of course, of course. Yes, definitely,” said the passionate Vasquez in his usual energetic manner. “Next year is going to be important for me…I’m going to look at my options.” csnbaltimore.com

Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies, Greg Monroe, Greivis Vasquez, Lockout 

Monroe will represent the Pistons on stage tonight during the annual draft lottery, which will be televised by ESPN at 8:30 p.m. The Pistons, currently slotted seventh in the draft order, have a 15 percent chance to move into one of the top three spots. “That’s definitely something I’m excited for,” Monroe said. “I’m happy the organization chose me. They could have picked a lot of different people, but it definitely means a lot to me that they chose me. I just want to go out there — hopefully, I’m a good-luck charm — and represent the Pistons organization in the right way.” Booth Newspapers

Detroit Pistons, Draft, Greg Monroe 

Greg Monroe will represent the Pistons at the NBA lottery this week, which is ironic for two reasons. If the rest of the Pistons had shown as much professionalism as Monroe did, the team wouldn't be in the lottery. And this may be the first time all year they are actually calling Monroe's number. "I probably could count them on my hand, the plays that were called for me throughout the year," Monroe said Friday. Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons, Greg Monroe 

While the franchise was pretty much in flames all season, Monroe -- a rookie! -- was a model of professionalism. He showed up at the Palace at age 20, expecting to play for an NBA team, and instead he was drafted into the circus. The players revolted against the coach. Every week seemed to bring a new absurdity. "It definitely caught me off guard, being my first year, a couple of the things that happened," Monroe said. "But none of those things happened with me personally. I just made sure I came to work and came to the gym. It didn't have anything to do with me." Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons, Greg Monroe 

"A lot of people did get caught up in me not having that rah-rah mentality," he said. "I just never believed you had to do all that extra stuff to show you're playing hard. No matter what the outcome, no matter what the score, I pride myself on playing hard -- no matter what." Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons, Greg Monroe 

Monroe, from New Orleans, told the New Orleans Times-Picayune this past week that "they told me I could keep it, but just out of respect, I think I'm going to change my number." But he later clarified that position to the Free Press. "I didn't say definitely," he said. "I'm still thinking about it. I haven't made a decision yet. I've been wearing No. 10 my whole life." Monroe's first reason for wearing No. 10 was typical, no-nonsense Monroe: "They had it in my size." But like a lot of players, he said his number "became a part of me, really," and he's torn about giving it up. Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons, Greg Monroe 

The first player to Pistons practices last season? Invariably, it was Greg Monroe. The guy there waiting to work with him before practice began? Always, it was player development coach Steve Hetzel. So while Monroe’s improvement from the early days of the season to his ascension to the starting lineup two months later to the string of double-doubles he posted in a closing rush was startling to many, it was just part of the process Hetzel knew would happen on its own terms. NBA.com

Detroit Pistons, Greg Monroe 

Take the first and most obvious example of Monroe’s ability to adapt and grow: His growth from a player who would get a high percentage of shots near the basket blocked to someone who finished with great proficiency just weeks later. “We always talked, from Summer League on last year, how intelligent he is,” Hetzel told me this week. “So a lot of it, for him, was trial and error. If he kept getting his shot blocked, then it would be his fault for not learning a way to adapt. We recognized it immediately. He and I talked about it and we started working on ways to get the ball up quicker and using his body.” NBA.com

Detroit Pistons, Greg Monroe 

Before Dennis Rodman’s No. 10 was hung from the Palace rafters during an April ceremony, he gave the current Detroit Pistons No. 10 his blessing to keep wearing it. But Greg Monroe said this week that he has too much respect for the past to keep the jersey. He plans to wear a new number next season, though it hasn't been determined which one. "They told me I could keep it, but just out of respect, I think I'm going to change my number," Monroe told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. He was in Louisiana fore the retirement of his high school jersey at Helen Cox High. Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons, Greg Monroe, Dennis Rodman