AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Pistons general manager and coach Stan Van Gundy had a chance to lock up burly power forward Greg Monroe last summer with a long-term deal when he became a restricted free agent. Now Detroit could be burned.
Despite all the talk about the Knicks' 2015 cap space, several league executives think they're going to have a hard time landing players given their bleak situation. They do believe the Knicks have a legitimate shot at two guys — Long Island's Tobias Harris and Monroe.
Van Gundy and Monroe — and agent David Falk — were unable to strike a deal last summer. Falk couldn't find one elsewhere either. It is believed teams were leery the Pistons would match any offer anyway, and Falk decided it was best to ride it out until 2015 when more teams had cap space, including the Knicks and Lakers.
Monroe, the former Georgetown stud, ended up signing Detroit's one-year, $5.5 million qualifying offer.
In November, with the Pistons owning one of the league's worst records, reports surfaced Van Gundy wanted to ship out Monroe for a first-round pick.
Detroit's post-Josh Smith renaissance has changed those plans. Now Monroe is in position to score big in July and the Knicks are expected to be hot on his trail. He is unrestricted, meaning the Pistons can no longer match an offer.
There are some who think Monroe can command a maximum contract — which, for his years of service, would start at $15.7 million.
Monroe was coy about his free agency, but did let it slip he thinks the Knicks' Derek Fisher will become "a great coach.''
"I'm not thinking about it right now, honestly,'' Monroe said at the morning shootaround before the Knicks' 121-115 double-overtime triumoh on Friday night. "I'm focusing on what I have to do for this team. It's something down the line. When I get to that point, I'll always make the right decision for me and my family, but right now I'm just focusing what I have to do here.''
Monroe, who had 28 points and 13 rebounds — along with four huge missed free throws in overtime on Friday — said he likes New York but doesn't have any connections to the city.
"I played there for the Big East tournament a lot,'' said Monroe, who spent two seasons as a Hoya. "Obviously everybody knows what a great city New York is. But I don't have any connections.''
Fisher said Monroe and center Andre Drummond are "two of the best in the game up front.'' Since Smith was waived, Monroe has been a monster, averaging 16 points and 11.9 rebounds in 30 minutes per game before last night while shooting 49.5 percent.
Shane Larkin steals the ball from Reggie Jackson Friday night.Photo: AP
"It's a compliment,'' Monroe said of Fisher's remarks. "I don't know anyone who turns down compliments. His knowledge of the game, a championship point guard. I think he's going to be a great coach. I definitely thank him for the compliment.''
The Pistons have another person of interest now on the roster, with Reggie Jackson their new starting point guard after a trade from the Thunder. Jackson lurked near Fisher, waiting for him to finish his pre-game press conference. Afterward, the former Oklahoma City teammates hugged and chatted for several minutes. Jackson will be a restricted free agent this July.
"I learned a lot from [Fisher],'' said Jackson, who had 16 points on Friday despite shooting 5-for-24 from the field. "Three years playing together, definitely cherish and value those minutes. He was coaching us on the floor.''
On the night the Knicks traded Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith, there were erroneous reports Jackson had been dealt to the Knicks. It's unclear how close talks ever got.
"It was trending on Twitter,'' Jackson said. We were going into the arena playing Golden State, but I wasn't worried about it.''
Jackson has to figure out if he wants to re-sign with Detroit, which will have injured point guard Brandon Jennings returning. Van Gundy has said the intent is Jackson will be with the Pistons to stay and Jennings, who has one year left on his pact, would have to deal with it.
Jackson said he's hoping it works out.
"It's a great, talented young corps,'' he said. "We got a bunch of pieces around us that are versatile. It looks like the organization is moving in the right direction and I'm trying to be part of it.''
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