Report: Pelicans have inquired with Pistons about sign-and-trade for Greg Monroe

Greg Monroe is expected to have a good number of suitors when he hits restricted free agency on July 1, but as a restricted free agent he has a limited amount of control over his situation.

While Monroe is likely to command a sizable contract on the market, the Pistons have the right to match any offer. So while Monroe may think free agency will be a familiar process, that's a pretty major wrinkle on what he's experienced before.

"From what I have been told, it'll be like that (college recruiting) a little bit," Monroe said.

Sure, if your high school could then not let you go to college.

In any case, Monroe will have suitors - "I'm hoping and praying that I will have some options, he said" - but one of the more intriguing destinations would require the Pistons to play along.

According to The Times-Picayune (linked above), the New Orleans Pelicans have inquired about working a sign-and-trade deal for Monroe. From the report:

Among those teams could be the New Orleans Pelicans, who will enter the free agency period in search of upgrading their center and small forward positions.

While the Pelicans, with about $7 million in salary cap room, don't appear to have enough cap space to sign Monroe, a source said the team has made some initial inquiries to the Pistons about the possibility of working out a sign-and-trade deal.

The Pelicans were already thought to be a good trading fit on paper, given how badly the Pistons could use shooting and the Pelicans' overstock of guards. Whether the teams can work something out around, say, an Eric Gordon, remains to be seen until Monroe hits the market.