Which team do you believe will utilize my skills the best??
— L8 Show (@LarrySanders) July 25, 2016
Hello, Larry Sanders.
The former Bucks big man who took a break from the NBA last season to pursue ‘outside interests’ took to Twitter this afternoon to ask fans which team would utilize his skills best.
Sanders spoke with the Vertical back in February and hinted a comeback is possible:
“Once my art, music and passions off the court feel stable, I will look into coming back,” Sanders told The Vertical. “I still love basketball. I want stability around me, and part of my mindset to leave was not to put all my eggs in one basket.
“I feel highly valuable on any team. There aren’t a lot of people who can bring my game to a team. I still play basketball all the time, staying in shape. I will need to make sure the situation is right for me.”
Sanders, an athletic shot-blocker at 6-foot-11, became one of the league’s most promising centers during five seasons with the Bucks. He had a career year in 2012-13, averaging 9.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in 71 games, which culminated in his participation with USA Basketball and a $44 million extension.
Sanders receives $1.86 million per year until 2022 through his buyout with the Bucks via the stretch provision. Any future contract Sanders signs would be unaffected.
Sanders’ personal life unraveled from 2013-15, beginning with a Milwaukee bar fight in November 2013 in which he was cited by police but did not face criminal charges. He then was suspended twice for violating the NBA’s anti-drug program and went on a personal leave of absence, which led to the buyout in February 2015. Sanders admitted at the time he needed to work on himself as he exited the league.
If Sanders could get his act together and focus on basketball, he’d immediately fill the shot-blocking and rebounding void on the Celtics roster.
He’d be your classic low risk, high reward guy.
I bet Danny Ainge is calling him right now.
