Cleveland Cavaliers rumors: Could Cavs use Dion Waiters to get Larry Sanders?

Now that the Cleveland Cavaliers have formed their own big three of LeBron James, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving, they are looking for a rim protector to provide backup defensively. They have been tied to the likes of Miami Heat free agent center Greg Oden, Phoenix Suns’ veteran free agent Emeka Okafor and Milwaukee Bucks’s free agent big man Ekpe Udoh as well as more talented players like Bucks’ big Larry Sanders.

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Nate Duncan of Basketball Insiders wonders if the Cavaliers would include guard Dion Waiters in a trade to get a player like Sanders provided he plays more like he did during the 2012-2013 season than he did in the 2013-2014 season.

"For Sanders, I’m not sure if that works for the Bucks. Sanders is just starting his $11 mm AAV extension this year. Granted that looks bad right now with his problems last year, but if he improves enough this year that the Cavs would want him, he’ll command more than just the first round pick you mentioned in a trade.I am not sure getting a real rim-protector with just that Haywood contract and the first-rounder are realistic. Those guys are too valuable to obtain via trade for so little. Maybe they could throw someone like Waiters into the deal if he looks awesome this year, but even that may not be enough."

Sanders played in just 23 games last season because of injuries and off of the court issues. He averaged 7.7 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 25.4 minutes per game while shooting 46.9% from the field and 47.3% from the free throw line last season. Waiters put up 15.9 points, 3.0 assists and 2.8 rebounds while shooting 43.3% from the floor, 36.8% from beyond the arc and 68.5% from the free throw line last season.

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