After a long leave of absence due to personal issues, Larry Sanders has finally completed a contract buyout with the Bucks.
After a two month suspension, or personal leave of absence, the Milwaukee Bucks and center Larry Sanders have completed a contract buyout.
The Bucks signed Sanders to a four-year, $44 million contract extension before last season. Sanders’ off-the-court problems were big enough, however, for him to walk away from the money and league for at least the rest of this season.
Sanders has had issues following the NBA’s anti-drug policy, violating many times for marijuana use. Back in January, Sanders said he would like to continue his NBA career and realizes his marijuana use will get in the way of that. But, with Sanders wanting to sit out the rest of the season to deal with personal issues, maybe he’s not quite ready to give up the drug.
Or maybe he just has other issues. Either way, Sanders won’t be playing in the NBA the rest of this season.
The extension Sanders signed back in August of 2013 was following the best of his five NBA seasons, posting 9.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game. Since signing the extension, however, Sanders’ averages and games played have dropped rather significantly.
Sanders has always been a very good defender, giving up over 100 points per 100 possessions just once. In the season leading up to his extension, Sanders showed his offensive promise posting an offensive rating of 109. This season, if he had played the season out, could have had or tied a career-best in defensive rating at 97, which he also posted in 2011-12.
Sanders absence hasn’t hurt Milwaukee’s defense too much, as they have the second best defensive efficiency mark at 99. Since his last game, the Bucks’ defensive rating stands at 96.8.
If Sanders is looking to return next season, assuming he is over his issues, anyone needing a body to protect the rim should come calling.