ORLANDO: Larry Sanders’ name resurfaced again Friday as the Cavaliers continue to explore their options for a rim protector to replace the injured Andrew Bogut.
Shams Charania of The Vertical reported the Cavs were in “serious discussions” with Sanders. Brian Windhorst of ESPN reported that talks were ongoing with several players, including Sanders. But a league source said no decision will be made until after the Cavs complete their three-game road trip Sunday in Houston.
Bogut’s season ended Monday when he fractured his left tibia 58 seconds into his Cavs’ debut.
The Cavs had Sanders, 27, in for a visit before the February trade deadline. The 15th overall pick of the Milwaukee Bucks in 2010 has been out of the league for two years due to personal issues and was also suspended twice in the 2013-14 season for marijuana use. Sanders was treated for depression and anxiety after his release by the Bucks on Feb. 21, 2015.
“He’s a good dude,” Cavs coach Tyronn Lue told local media after meeting with Sanders last month. “I know he has some negative things said about him, but just meeting him for the first time, just talking to him one-on-one, he’s a great guy. You never know, you never understand until you’re around that person and you’re able to talk to that person. With me, everybody I meet always has a clean slate. You have a clean slate until you do something wrong, so he was a great dude just talking to him.”
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her blog at www.ohio.com/marla. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MRidenourABJ.