Monroe signs with Bucks, Dudley dealt to Wizards

As one of the most coveted big men on the free agent market, Greg Monroe had his choice of destinations.

The big-market Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks wanted him. So did the Portland Trail Blazers.

In the end, Monroe wanted the best chance to reach the playoffs for the first time in his career. For the first time in a long time, the Milwaukee Bucks provided the surest bet on that front.

Monroe agreed to terms on Thursday with the Bucks on a three-year deal worth $50 million, his agent David Falk said. The deal gives the 25-year-old Monroe a chance to become a free agent again after two years if he so chooses, and it also surrounds him with one of the best young rosters in the league as he chases that elusive playoff berth.

Monroe averaged 15.9 points and 10.2 rebounds while playing the kind of throwback style of low-post banging that is so hard to find in a league where small ball is in vogue.

Moving on after learning they’ll lose Paul Pierce as a free agent, the Washington Wizards agreed to acquire forward Jared Dudley from the Bucks for a future second-round draft pick.

Dudley, who turns 30 next week, has averaged 8.5 points and 39.6-per cent shooting on 3s during his eightyear NBA career. He became expendable for the Bucks when they got Greivis Vasquez from the Toronto Raptors to give them a veteran shooter off the bench.

The Phoenix Suns have traded Marcus Morris, Danny Granger and Reggie Bullock to the Detroit Pistons for a future draft pick, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. The move was very likely a bid to clear salary space to sign free agent LaMarcus Aldridge.