Suns Waive Greg Monroe - Signs With Celtics For 1 Year $5 Million

[key2win]

Suns agree to contract buyout with center Greg Monroe

Center Greg Monroe has agreed to a contract buyout with the Phoenix Suns, clearing the way for him to become an unrestricted free agent, league sources told ESPN.

Monroe, 27, was making $17.8 million in the final year of his contract. He has averaged 11.2 points and eight rebounds in 23 minutes a game with the Suns. He will be placed on waivers Thursday and will remain there for 48 hours before becoming a free agent if unclaimed.

Phoenix agreed to the buyout after exhausting trade possibilities for Monroe, who arrived with the Suns as part of the Eric Bledsoe deal in November.

Before the trade to Phoenix, Monroe averaged a career-low 6.8 points and five rebounds in limited minutes for the Milwaukee Bucks this season.

For his career, which has included five seasons with the Detroit Pistons, Monroe has averaged 13.9 points and 8.7 rebounds.

[key2win]

Greg Monroe, Celtics agree on 1-year, $5M deal

Center Greg Monroe has committed to signing a one-year, $5 million contract with the Boston Celtics, league sources told ESPN.

Monroe, who will clear waivers on Saturday after agreeing to a contract buyout with the Phoenix Suns, chose the Celtics over the New Orleans Pelicans.

Boston didn't make firm promises on playing time with Monroe, league sources said. His ability to score inside gives Boston another dimension as it prepares to make a push for a deep run into the Eastern Conference playoffs.

While the Pelicans could offer only Monroe $2.2 million for the balance of the season, the chance at a starting job -- in his childhood hometown -- still made for a compelling case with Monroe. But he ultimately chose the Celtics' ability to offer him more money based upon carving $5 million out of its $8.4 million disabled player exception awarded with the season-ending injury to Gordon Hayward.

Monroe agreed to a contract buyout on the remainder of his $17.8 million salary this season and will become an unrestricted free agent once he clears waivers on Saturday.

Monroe, 27, has averaged 11.3 points and eight rebounds in 23 minutes a game with the Suns. Before Monroe was traded to Phoenix, he averaged a career-low 6.8 points and five rebounds in limited minutes for the Milwaukee Bucks this season.

Stevens will have to figure out where Monroe fits on a team that likes to spread the floor, and Monroe must commit to playing defense to win his coach's trust. Still, his offensive talents might be too tantalizing. Given all the maddening lulls that Boston's second unit has endured this season, Stevens can have reserve units feed Monroe when the offensive is struggling. Monroe gives Boston a much-needed post threat, and his passing talents will create open looks for teammates.

Monroe also becomes Boston's best rebounder from the moment he puts a jersey on. He can help a Boston team that ranks 14th in the league in total rebound percentage (50.2).