Greg Monroe signed a one-year qualifying offer to stay with the Detroit Pistons for the 2014-15 NBA season, the team announced in an NBA Free Agents 2014 statement on Monday.
Monroe, who averaged 15.2 points and 9.3 rebounds last season, was a restricted free agent this summer. The power forward is looking for a lucrative deal, but the Pistons are not willing to give into his demands.
The Pistons tried to look for sign-and-trade partners for Monroe, but talks with several teams, including the Portland Trail Blazers did not materialize, which forced the 24-year-old to take the qualifying offer.
By signing the qualifying offer, Monroe will take the risk of losing his current value if his performance declines next season or if he sustains an injury. But on the bright side, the four-year veteran will be an unrestricted free agent next summer, and will be free to choose to sign with any time without giving the Pistons the right to match the offer.
"We have had good dialogue with Greg throughout the offseason with the understanding that there were multiple options for both parties involved, and we respect his decision. We look forward to a great year from Greg as we continue to build our team moving forward," Pistons head coach and president of basketball operations Stan Van Gundy said in an NBA Free Agents 2014 announcement.
Before signing the qualifying offer, Monroe was among the big-name players remaining on the free agency market along with Eric Bledsoe, who could also take the same route, and sign a qualifying offer with the Phoenix Suns.
The Suns offered a four-year deal worth $48 million to Bledsoe earlier in the offseason, but the 24-year-old guard snubbed the offer as he is expecting a maximum five-year contract worth $85 million.
The Suns have been looking to move Bledsoe via a sign-and-trade agreement, but they have yet to find a willing taker for the former Kentucky standout, who averaged 17.7 points to go along with 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game last season.
According to an NBA Free Agents 2014 report on Arizona Central, Bledsoe is still seeking for a max deal. The Suns are not expected to offer such contract, but sources said that they are willing to increase their offer since keeping Bledsoe is their main priority this offseason.
