Joining Cavaliers provides Sanders a chance at redemption, championship
"Why not?," LeBron James asked reporters about the Cleveland Cavaliers potentially signing free-agent center Larry Sanders last week.
It's true. Why not, right?
The reigning NBA champions have nothing to lose in bringing Sanders - who has reportedly agreed to a contract with the Cavaliers that will likely include an option for the 2017-18 regular season - aboard.
A spot became vacant when veteran Andrew Bogut unfortunately went down with a broken leg in the first minute of his debut in a Cavs uniform March 6. The 7-foot Aussie would have provided head coach Tyronn Lue a big body around the basket who could alter shots and score the occasional bucket coming off the bench.
Now that he's no longer in the picture, that roll falls into the lap of Sanders, who's more versatile and mobile than his counterpart, despite not having suited up for an NBA game since Dec. 23, 2014.
What gets lost in the news that he's back in the NBA is that Sanders is only 28 years old. He departed the league in February 2015 after the Milwaukee Bucks bought him out following multiple violations of the league's anti-drug policy, and feeling the need to focus on his personal life and treat his anxiety and depression.
Sanders' return - which he's consistently hinted at for several months on social media - is a good a sign as any that he's found some semblance of peace in his life, which is the most important takeaway here.
The workout he held in February showed suitors that he still had plenty left in the tank, which is to be expected considering his age and the lack of mileage on his body. Some executives told The Vertical's Shams Charania that Sanders displayed "elite athleticism and speed," and that he could definitely be a factor for a team once he works his way into proper game shape.
Frankly, Sanders couldn't have landed in a better situation, as Cleveland is the heavy favorite to emerge from the Eastern Conference and compete for a second straight title. With veterans like James, Richard Jefferson, and James Jones (just to name a few) in the fold, Sanders will be surrounded by high-quality individuals who will no doubt serve as positive influences on him.
As far as what he can bring to the table on the hardwood, all anyone can really go off is how Sanders fared during his latter years with the Bucks. At his peak, the 15th overall pick out of VCU was one of the NBA's most feared shot-blockers, averaging 3.3 rejections per 36 minutes over 233 appearances for the organization.
If he can come even close to replicating that production, it would be most welcome for a Cleveland squad currently ranked 25th in that department with just four per game.
The Cavaliers have come back down to earth as of late, losing four of their five games as their lead on the top seed in the East has dropped to two games over the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards. During this span, Cleveland has allowed opponents to score 116.8 points per 100 possessions, which is third-worst in the league.
Sanders won't single-handedly turn the team's defense around, especially in the limited playing time he'll presumably receive when he's not in the D-League with the Canton Charge. The 2012-13 Bucks allowed 6.8 fewer points per 100 possessions when he played, so there's at least some evidence that he can make a positive impact on that end of the floor.
Again, this is a low-risk, high-reward situation for the Cavaliers, albeit one that was only created by dire circumstances after losing Bogut. Nonetheless, this is Sanders' time to show the basketball world that he has value, which could lead to him sticking around for another season in Cleveland or finding himself a new home down the road.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)