Pistons sign F Monroe to one-year deal

The Detroit Pistons signed forward Greg Monroe to a one-year qualifying offer Monday.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but the Detroit Free Press reported that the deal is worth $5.5 million.

Monroe and the Pistons couldn’t agree to a long-term contract extension during the summer nor work out a sign-and-trade agreement with another team.

“I have said from day one that we have great respect for Greg as a person and like what he brings to this team as a player,” Stan Van Gundy, head coach and president of basketball operations, said in a statement. “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.”

Monroe, the seventh overall pick by the Pistons in the 2010 draft, averaged 15.2 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 32.8 minutes in a career-high 82 games (all starts) last season. In 309 career games (277 starts), Monroe has averaged 14.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.2 steals in 31.3 minutes per game.

“I look forward to playing for Coach Van Gundy and his staff,” Monroe said in a statement. “He has a proven track record and I’m excited about working with my teammates to get better and prepare for the season.”

The 6-foot-11 Monroe averaged 15.0-plus points, 9.0-plus rebounds, 2.0-plus assists and 1.0-plus steals in each of his last three seasons.