The recent transaction that sent Milwaukee Bucks' power forward Ersan Ilyasova to the Detroit Pistons for veterans Caron Butler and Shawne Williams are allegedly having a "direct consequence" on the career of current Pistons starting power forward Greg Monroe, according to Bleacher Report.

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ESPN also reported that the 25-year-old Monroe, who was Detroit's seventh overall first round draft pick in 2010, will most likely be included in a deal that would bolster the team's small forward spot.

Monroe is also set to become an unrestricted free agent this July, so he could always sign up with another team if he wants to.

The trade for Ilyasova is said to be the precursor to Monroe's departure in order to make sure that Andre Drummond will still have a reliable front court partner. Rumors have also suggested that Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy thinks that Ilyasova is a better fit with Drummond because of his range, mobility, and outside shooting.

Two of the leading teams that are presently in the hunt for the 6-foot-11, 250-pound center-forward's services are the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics.

The New York Daily News' Frank Isola said that one of the "worst kept secrets in the NBA" is Knicks president Phil Jackson's desire to acquire Monroe. Isola said that as soon as free agent recruitment commences on July 1, the Knicks will offer Monroe a deal to land him in the Big Apple. He also claimed that with Jackson's closeness to Monroe's agent, David Falk, which dates way back in the Michael Jordan days, the Knicks will surely give in to their demands of a maximum salary.

With New York's current need of a big man to partner with Carmelo Anthony, and Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor almost sure of being the top two picks, the Monroe option would prove to be too valuable for Jackson.

As for the Boston Celtics, they really do not have a need for another big man in their lineup at this point in time. But Celtics president Danny Ainge is reportedly keen on getting the best possible talent in this year's free agency and then work on trades to set up a new roster.

Monroe is one of the target names by the C's this July and they would surely offer him a hefty salary given the team's existing financial flexibility.

TagsNBA 2015, NBA news, NBA News 2015, NBA rumors, NBA Rumors 2015, detroit pistons, greg monroe