Larry Sanders hints at NBA return; Boston would make a lot of sense
Larry Sanders has been using social media to fan the flames of an NBA comeback for himself. Sanders was bought out by the Milwaukee Bucks in February of 2015 after failing and serving a second drug suspension (marijuana) - ultimately he had told them he didn't want to play basketball anymore. Now almost two years removed from the game, Sanders is hinting at a comeback on Twitter:
Coming to a city near you 😉— Larry Sanders (@l8show_thegoat) December 23, 2016
It seems he needed some time to clear his head, and hopefully with nearly two years away from the game he's had the chance to do that. Sanders is a freakish presence in the paint - at 6'11 and just under a 7'6 wingspan he is a shot-clocking machine. In 2012-13 he was 2nd in the NBA in blocks per game, trailing only Serge Ibaka, and he actually led the league in block percentage.
If Sanders has cleared his head and is ready to give basketball another go, my guess is there will be a lot of interest in him around the league. More than likely most teams would be willing to kick the tires on a guy with his ridiculous interior presence. He's a terrific rebounder, and we've seen how guys with similiar skillsets have impacted playoff series. Guys like Ibaka and Bismack Biyombo have had huge impacts in the postseason by playing stellar defense, protecting the paint, and snatching rebounds. But of all the teams that might be interested in his service, a Boston-Sanders combo might be the best for both sides.
The Celtics sit at 23rd in the NBA in rebounds, and 15th in Defensive Rating - a far fall from 4th they held last season. They are getting a whopping 4.1 boards and .5 blocks a game form their starting center. Sanders is almost exactly the kind of player this team needs(besides another superstar). A hustle big man who's long and athletic, can protect the rim, and REBOUND would go a long ways to shoring up a lot of this teams issues. Not to mention that Sanders could be obtained on a short-term deal where we wouldn't have to give up anything. It's a no-brainer.
As for Sanders side of the coin; he would be joining one of the better teams in the league that is primed for a deep playoff run. Obviously teams like Golden State and Cleveland offer a better opportunity at a title, but I would argue that Boston is one of the best teams that really need his services. He could really carve himself a big role if he can play at a high level still. Clearly I'm not the only one that thinks this way:
Sanders could be a really huge boost to any playoff contender come the spring, but there's still no rock-solid evidence that he has anything in the works for an NBA return. Hopefully he's not just trolling us all along.Which team do you believe will utilize my skills the best??🤔— Larry Sanders (@l8show_thegoat) July 25, 2016
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