ORLANDO: LeBron James believes in second chances.
So if General Manager David Griffin decides Larry Sanders is the rim protector the Cavaliers need, James is on board.
Reports surfaced Friday night from Shams Charania of The Vertical and Brian Windhorst of ESPN that the Cavs’ search for a big man to replace Andrew Bogut has included talks with Sanders, who has been out of the league since Feb. 21, 2015.
“I know Griff’s been talking with him and his agent, not sure how serious they are, but I know we liked him with our workout,” Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said before Saturday’s shootaround at Freedom High School in Orlando. “Or Griff liked him, so not sure where they’re at with the talks. Griff will be in tonight, so we’ll see what happens.”
Bogut broke his left tibia 58 seconds into his Cavs’ debut Monday. The Cavs have yet to waive Bogut and providing they do, don’t plan to fill that spot until after their three-game road trip, which ends Sunday night in Houston.
The 15th overall pick of the Milwaukee Bucks in 2010, Sanders battled anxiety and depression after he was released in early 2015.
James didn’t want to discuss Sanders’ off-the-court issues, but is ready to welcome him if that’s the option the Cavs’ choose.
“An athletic big guy, incredible shot-blocking skills, anticipation around the rim, can finish around the rim and block shots and being able to guard perimeter guys as well,” James said. “With his hiatus, I don’t know what he was going through so I can’t comment about somebody’s personal life because I wasn’t a part of it.
“But it looks like he wants another opportunity and hopefully if we’re the team, hopefully we give him an opportunity. Why not? Everyone deserves a second chance and it looks like he wants to get back to playing the game he loves and hopefully this is his destination. You don’t know how much you can get out of a guy that’s been out so long, but I’d love to see it. Why not?”
James was supportive of former Ohio State star Greg Oden when he joined the Miami Heat in 2013-14, trying to make a comeback from what would prove to be career-ending injuries. Oden played 23 games that season, the former No. 1 overall pick’s last in the league.
Asked if Sanders’ situation could be similar to Oden’s, James said, “I don’t know. One was battling injuries in Greg and he couldn’t physically play every single night, couldn’t physically play every single day in practice. I haven’t been around Larry, so I don’t know what consists of him playing every night or him getting back to the flow of things.
“From the outside looking in, it looks like he wants to be back on an NBA floor again. He has the talent, we all know that. He has the ability. I think this will be a perfect locker room for him to try to help him. You know me, I’m always in favor of helping somebody get their things back right. I was part of it with [Chris “Birdman” Andersen] in Miami, helped Greg, I was part of it with Eddy Curry, he won a ring [with the Heat]. I don’t ever shy away from a guy getting a second chance. If this is his destination, I’d be happy to be part of his process.”
Sanders, 6-foot-11 and 28 years old, talked to the Cavs before the February trade deadline, but the Cavs signed Bogut instead.
In his career, Sanders has averaged 6.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocked shots in 113 games. His best season came with the Bucks in 2012-13, when he averaged 9.8 points and 9.5 rebounds in 71 games. Sanders was twice suspended for marijuana use in 2013-14.
Injury updates
Shooting guard Kyle Korver missed his second consecutive game Saturday night against the Magic at Amway Arena with left foot soreness. Korver said before shootaround that he underwent an MRI and is dealing with a sore tendon on the side of his foot that flared up during the March 1 game in Boston. He was determined not to let it sideline him for his return to Atlanta on March 3, but the pain worsened after that.
Since March 1, Korver has shot 11-of-34 from the field and 9-of-25 from 3-point range. In his last game Monday at home against the Miami Heat, he went 2-for-7 from the field and 0-for-5 from beyond the arc.
Lue said Korver would be re-examined soon.
“Just get through tonight, get through tomorrow, re-evaluate him and see how he feels. But he said he’s feeling better after talking to him today,” Lue said before Saturday’s game.
James, who suffered a hip pointer Thursday night at Detroit, started against the Magic.
James said after the loss to the Pistons that he would start treatment on the flight to Orlando and didn’t think the injury would force him to sit.
“Mmm hmm. I’m good. That’s all I needed was a little 24 hours,” James said.
Memories
Lue was a member of the Magic when then-rookie James played his first game in Orlando on Christmas Day, 2003. Lue played 25 minutes off the bench and scored 11 points and handed out two assists. James poured in 38 points, along with two rebounds and six assists.
Lue has a vivid memory of James in that game.
“They threw a deep pass, I tried to take a charge, he caught it, full speed, spun off me and laid the ball up,” Lue said. “I knew he was going to be great when that happened to me. I do remember that play, it was crazy. And my cousin talks about it all the time, too.”
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.