The Boston Celtics have made their needs very clear and they have to assets to challenge any team for the top trade prospects.
Thus, when a new name that is reported to be on the block corresponds to their pressing needs, the Celtics will be inevitably linked.
The Milwaukee Bucks were not a month removed from saying that they would not trade Greg Monroe if only for the reason that he is their free agent off season prize. If the report from Journal Times is to be believed, they have already veered from that position.
Reporter Gary Woelfel who handles the Bucks Beat for the times quoted an unnamed NBA executive :"From what I'm hearing is they (the Bucks) are willing to trade anybody not named Parker, Antetokounmpo or Middleton, even heard they'd listen (to offers) for Parker and Middleton, but it would have to be some crazy offer."
The executive concluded: "They want to do something; they know they have to do something. That group they have isn't working.''
Woelfel also wrote that Monroe seems to have become a scapegoat for the Bucks as instead of taking a step forward after last season's breakthrough, they might not even make the playoffs.
"Justified or not, Monroe is being targeted as one of the primary reasons for the Bucks' defensive deficiencies this season," Woelfel wrote. "After being one of the elite defensive teams in the league last season, the Bucks are now one of the worst, giving up 103.3 points per game compared to 97.4 last season."
There are already trade suggestions at the Celtics Blog involving Greg Monroe. The package would involve David Lee to match salaries but common elements in trade ideas are draft picks (the Dallas Mavericks, not Brooklyn's or the Celtics' own) and Avery Bradley as a player the Bucks would want.
Monroe is not a rim protector (that's why he's rumored on the block) but he could be an offensive cornerstone for Boston.