Report: Sixers to sign Greg Monroe

As first reported by Jordan Schultz of ESPN and then by Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Philadelphia 76ers will sign veteran big man Greg Monroe and waive Justin Patton:

Veteran center Greg Monroe plans to sign with the #76ers tomorrow, a league source tells ESPN. Philadelphia will waive center Justin Patton and Monroe will then sign. -@Schultz_Report

Philadelphia is signing veteran center Greg Monroe to a rest-of-season contract, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. -@ShamsCharania

Monroe is playoff eligible, so this move provides the team some depth through the early rounds. Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer noted in a tweet that the team likes his “veteran leadership”, which I’m sure is a real view the Sixers have but is also maybe another way of saying “We don’t trust Jonah Bolden.” (Honestly, I don’t really understand this move.)

Monroe played most of the ‘18-’19 season with the Toronto Raptors, appearing in 38 games before being traded to the Nets and then waived in February. More recently, he signed a 10-day contract the Boston Celtics, but appeared in just one game and played less than two minutes. He’s averaging 15.9 points and 13.4 rebounds per-36 on the season, but with a lousy 49% true shooting.

It’s disappointing that Justin Patton did virtually nothing to convince the Sixers he’s an NBA player, but it’s hardly a surprise. Injuries have plagued Patton’s career, as he’s appeared in just four games through two seasons.