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Could The Cleveland Cavaliers Have Attended Larry Sanders’ Workout?

By Quenton S. Albertie

Jan 19, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) drives to the basket as Milwaukee Bucks center Larry Sanders (left) defends during the first half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 19, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) drives to the basket as Milwaukee Bucks center Larry Sanders (left) defends during the first half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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Larry Sanders will likely be back in the NBA after the All-Star Game. Could he sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers when returns?

Basketball insider Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times has reported that Larry Sanders should be signed at some point after the All-Star break.

According to Joel Bell, Larry Sanders’ agent, there are at least six teams that have interest in his client after he hosted a private workout in Miami that included him fielding interview questions about a murky past. In 2014, Sanders quite literally quit playing in the NBA as he dealt with depression.

As a result, Sanders and the Milwaukee Bucks eventually reached a buyout agreement. Sanders is still being paid by the Bucks as the organization used the “stretch provision” to waive Sanders and change his four-year, $44 million contract into a seven-year, $13.3 million contract that would pay him $1.9 million annually.

That’s one of the reasons the money shouldn’t concern Sanders. The other is simply that he has to redeem himself after the way he left the NBA. Franchises are going to know if Sanders is truly passionate and committed to the game, no matter what kind of contract they sign him to.

To that point, in Woelfel’s article, he says that “an NBA executive, whose team is a lock for the playoffs, confirmed his team had a representative at Sanders’ workout and felt Sanders acquitted himself well”.

That’s good news for those fans that want to see the 6-foot-11, 235 pound Sanders on their team. Sanders, who averaged 9.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game at the peak of his short NBA career, proved to be one of the most elite rim-protectors in the league in the five seasons he played.

Just a couple of years removed from basketball and 28-years-old, Sanders should still have the athleticism to be an impact player on the defensive end. As for the teams that were interested in Sanders, the same NBA executive said that “two other playoff-bound teams, which he wouldn’t reveal, checked out Sanders in Miami”.

Out of all the playoff bound teams, there aren’t many that need help at the center position enough to be interested in Sanders. It’s already been reported that Sanders worked out for the Boston Celtics which would leave two other playoff-bound teams as potential destinations for Sanders.

One of those other teams could be the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have been looking for a rim-protector for quite some time and had serious interest in Sanders over the summer. They recently signed Derrick Williams to a 10-day contract but look to be interested in playing him all over the court. That would mean that the team still needs a point guard and a big man.

Must Read: What Are The Benefits Of The Cavs Signing Derrick Williams

They’ll only have one roster spot open if they trade reserve center Chris Andersen.

The Cavs would likely try to add a point guard first, as it’s been their priority for months. However, if no point guard can be found then the Cavs will have to fall back on their backup point guard by committee approach.

That’s a feasible option for a team that has LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and guards capable of handling the ball for the second unit like J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert, Kay Felder, DeAndre Liggins and Jordan McRae (listed in their pecking order).

The Cleveland Cavaliers would be signing another low risk, high reward player and the culture within the Cavs locker room, with its curious mix of vibrancy and seriousness, would benefit Sanders. Sanders would be a welcome addition to a team that is devoid of rim-protection and though Sanders wouldn’t step into a rotation spot, he could certainly be useful as a reserve center in the event that one of the Cavs’ centers suffers an injury.

Sanders already has one offer on the table. The Cavs likely won’t offer Sanders a deal until closer to the buyout deadline.

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Would you want the Cleveland Cavaliers to sign Larry Sanders? Let us know in the comments section or Twitter @KJG_NBA.