The Washington Wizards reportedly expressed strong interest in acquiring Detroit Pistons power forward Greg Monroe either through free agency after the season or before the trade deadline next month.

Basketball Insiders reported that the Wizards will aggressively pursuit Monroe next summer, but they could accelerate their plan to acquire him by striking a trade in the next few weeks to avoid complications after the season.

The Wizards can wait for Monroe to become a free agent in July and get him without giving up any assets, but the Pistons can match any offer for the 23-year-old soon-to-be restricted free agent.

Monroe, who was the seventh-overall pick during the 2010 NBA Draft, is averaging 14.2 points to go along with 8.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists this season.

"It's not every day that a 23-year-old big man with Monroe's skill set and potential becomes available, so expect many other teams to emerge as possible suitors for Monroe as well. But since Monroe will be a restricted free agent, the Pistons can match any offer that he receives so getting the big man to sign an offer sheet doesn't necessarily mean that he'll leave Detroit," Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders noted.

In order to speed up their acquisition of Monroe, the Wizards might be forced to give up assets that would convince the Pistons to part ways with Monroe, such as future draft picks or young assets.

NBC Sports opened up the idea of trading 2013 third-overall pick Otto Porter to the Pistons for Monroe. The Wizards might be willing to give up their prized rookie to form an excellent pick-and-roll tandem of Monroe and star point guard John Wall.

Porter was considered as the most NBA-ready player in last year's draft, but has yet to show his real potential after starting the season on the sidelines due to a hip injury.

"When Washington drafted Porter No. 3, he was more valuable than Monroe, but a slow start to his rookie year, even if injury related, has worn some shine off Porter. It's way too early to write off Porter, which is why the Pistons might be interested," NBC Sports noted.

Monroe is reportedly one of the expendable assets of the Pistons, but the former Georgetown standout could be removed from the trading block if the Pistons manage to find a taker for Josh Smith before the deadline.