Philadelphia 76ers: Expectations should be low for Greg Monroe

Philadelphia 76ers should temper their expectations for the incoming Greg Monroe.

The postseason is edging closer and the Philadelphia 76ers are gearing up, adding veteran center Greg Monroe to the much-maligned second unit. Sophomore big man Justin Patton was cut as a result, ending his brief tenure with the franchise.

In a vacuum, the Monroe signing makes sense. He’s a veteran who offers more than the inexperienced Patton. The Sixers weren’t going to keep Patton beyond the 2018-19 season, so shedding his contract for a more experienced asset before the playoffs could prove beneficial.

With that said, expectations should be low for Monroe. The Sixers lack depth, but center isn’t the biggest position of need. Monroe probably doesn’t provide much of an upgrade either, boasting many of the same shortcomings that plague the current backup centers.

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Monroe has fallen victim to the modern NBA, becoming an outdated defender who struggles to play significant minutes as a result. He’s still a gifted post scorer who can throw his weight around at 6-foot-11, but defending in space is a challenge for the 28-year-old.

One of the Sixers’ primary issues on defense is their inability to contain pick-and-rolls, especially when Joel Embiid sits. Monroe serves only to perpetuate the issue, providing little — if any — improvement over the 7-foot-3 Boban Marjanovic.

When it comes to the postseason, bigs of Monroe’s ilk become even more problematic. There’s a reason his tenures in Toronto and Boston this season were short-lived. Opposing teams will consistently pound Monroe’s defense until Brett Brown is forced to adjust.

Embiid will command most of the center minutes once the playoffs hit, but Ben Simmons and Mike Scott might present the next-best options. Jonah Bolden makes sense on paper, but foul trouble and rookie mistakes could dissuade Brett Brown from using him.

In 40 games this season — 38 of which came with Toronto — Monroe averaged just 10.7 minutes, 4.7 points and 4.0 rebounds. In crowded Raptors and Celtics frontcourts, there were fewer opportunities to carve out playing time. But it’s telling just how little those coaches trusted Moose.

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The Sixers don’t have the same depth talent-wise, but there are several bigs on the roster. Boban, Bolden and Scott all represent better options than Monroe in certain settings. There’s an argument to be made that Monroe fits the Sixers’ offense, and there’s some degree of truth there, but it’s not enough to warrant a big chunk of minutes in reserve.

Given his recent seasons, there’s no evidence to expect reliable production out of Monroe. He’s also joining with four games left on the schedule, giving him minimal time to learn the Sixers’ defensive schemes and playbook.

Brown has a soft spot for veteran centers. Boban and Amir Johnson, contrasted with Bolden’s sporadic playing time, are prime examples of that preference. Monroe will probably get a shot over the next few games.

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When it comes down to postseason minutes, though, don’t anticipate Monroe filling an important niche.