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Free Agent Rumors: Sanders, Farmar, Tavares

February 2nd, 2017 at 3:08pm CST by Luke Adams

Former Bucks big man Larry Sanders is getting serious about returning to the NBA, as we heard earlier this week. Sanders has hired an agent and lined up meetings with three teams, according to a report from The Vertical. However, more than just three clubs have Sanders on their radar — according to Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News (Twitter link), eight to 12 NBA teams have expressed some level of interest in the free agent center. Wolfson adds that Sanders will meet with teams next week in Miami.

Here are a few more updates on various free agent situations around the league:

  • Jordan Farmar, one of several free agents that worked out for the Cavaliers on Wednesday, impressed the team and appears to be under consideration for a contract, a source tells Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com. The other participants in the workout – Mario Chalmers, Kirk Hinrich, and Lance Stephenson – remain in play as the Cavs mull a potential signing, but Farmar, in particular, acquitted himself well, reports Vardon.
  • Former Hawks center Walter ‘Edy’ Tavares signed a D-League contract after being waived by Atlanta in the fall, but he remains an NBA free agent, and hopes to get back into the league at some point, as he tells David Alarcon of HoopsHype. “To return to Spain, to Gran Canaria, would always be good because they showed so much love that I would like to leave everything now and return,” Tavares said. “But I have to think first in the NBA. … For me, returning to Europe would be like giving up. I’m going to let this year pass and then I’ll figure out what to do. I spoke with my agent and this is the best option. Stay here, play well and wait for a team to call me. I’m going to give it all this year and I’ll decide if I stay here for another year or take a step back and go back to Europe.”
  • The Heat have kept Briante Weber on their radar, but their ability to re-sign him may hinge on Josh Richardson‘s health, as Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel explains in a mailbag. Weber has been thriving this season for Miami’s D-League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, with 16.5 PPG, 7.4 RPG, and 7.2 APG, but he remains an NBA free agent.
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Larry Sanders Hires Agent, Schedules Team Visits

February 1st, 2017 at 10:35am CST by Luke Adams

Former NBA big man Larry Sanders announced last week on Twitter that he was officially moving forward with an attempted comeback, paying a visit to the Celtics in the process. According to Shams Charania of The Vertical, Sanders continues to ramp up those efforts, having hired agent Joel Bell to represent him. Sanders also has team visits scheduled with three additional clubs, per Charania.

It’s not yet clear which three teams Sanders will be visiting, but he could appeal to a number of clubs seeking frontcourt help. We’ve heard that the VCU product is on the Wizards’ radar, and the Timberwolves are in the market for a big man. Additionally, Sam Amico of AmicoHoops.net reports (via Twitter) that the Cavaliers will be bringing in at least one free agent big man for a workout, though Amico says that player is yet to be confirmed. It’s not known whether Sanders will visit any of those teams, but they’d be among the possible fits.

Sanders hasn’t played in the NBA since the 2014/15 season, when he announced that he was leaving the game for personal reasons. The Bucks waived him under the stretch provision, and he remains on the team’s cap at about $1.866MM per season through 2021/22. That figure would be reduced by setoff if he signs with another organization.

Sanders, now 28, flashed promising upside during his initial stint in the NBA, so teams bringing him in for a look will be interested to see if he still looks like that same player. In the 2012/13 season, the last time he was fully healthy, Sanders averaged 9.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game. Injuries and off-the-court problems limited him to 50 games over his last two seasons in the NBA.

Arthur Hill contributed to this post.

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Southeast Rumors: Magic, Wizards, Sanders, Ibaka

January 31st, 2017 at 4:12pm CST by Luke Adams

Weighing in on recent Serge Ibaka and Nikola Vucevic rumors, Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders reports that the majority of trade talks the Magic have been involved in are “very exploratory” in nature. That applies to the Vucevic talks with the Celtics, in particular, with sources telling Kyler that no deal involving Vucevic going to Boston was ever “actively under consideration.”

The Magic have been very active in pursuing potential deals, with GM Rob Hennigan recently vowing to be aggressive as he attempts to improve the roster. But Orlando doesn’t appear ready to make a deal yet, and sources who have talked to the team tell Kyler that the Magic may be overvaluing some of the players on their roster.

Here’s more from around the Southeast:

  • Larry Sanders, who is attempting an NBA comeback, is on the Wizards‘ radar, but Washington’s interest in Sanders depends on Ian Mahinmi‘s health, sources tell J. Michael of CSNMidAtlantic.com. If Mahinmi can return to the court for the Wizards, the team’s interest in Sanders would fade. Michael also adds that Washington doesn’t have interest in trading for Ibaka.
  • There were some offseason questions about the relationship on and off the court between Wizards guards Bradley Beal and John Wall, but Beal is tired of answering questions on that topic, as Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com writes. Appearing on ESPN Radio’s NBA Insiders, Beal said that his relationship with Wall is going “really well” this season. “It’s kind of getting old, people saying that we don’t agree and that we don’t click,” Beal said. “We’re just going out and proving it on the floor.”
  • The Heat‘s supporting cast has played a huge role in the team’s recent winning streak, and many of those players are eligible for free agency this summer. In a mailbag, Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel examines whether it makes sense for the club to try to keep players like Dion Waiters, James Johnson, and Willie Reed beyond this season.
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And-Ones: Sanders, Brown, All-Star Game

January 28th, 2017 at 10:56am CST by Austin Kent

Former Bucks big man Larry Sanders caused a stir Thursday night when he tweeted that he was ready to return to the NBA. In 2015, the center walked away from the game at 26 years of age, ultimately citing personal struggles with mental health in a video essay for the Players Tribune.

Sanders last saw consistent action in 2012/13, before playing 23 games in an injury-compromised 2013/14 season and 27 games in a 2014/15 season beset by drug-related suspensions absences for personal reasons.

Sanders has reportedly worked out for the Celtics and, while reports that he’s had a meeting with the Wizards are said to be false, he has been training at the team’s facility.

Sanders averaged 9.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game for the Bucks during that 2012/13 campaign.

  • Former NBA head coach Larry Brown is open to coaching in EuroLeague, writes E. Carchia of Sportando via Italian newspaper La Gazetta. Brown had reportedly been in touch with Maccabi Tel Aviv but was scared off when they quickly cycled through three head coaches already this season.
  • The Windy City Bulls of the NBA D-League have acquired forward Duje Dukan in a trade for a 2017 fifth-round pick, tweets Chris Reichert of The Step Back. Dukan’s last taste of NBA action was with Kings at the start of the 2015/16 season. Earlier this year he had been under contract in Croatia, but the parties mutually split.
  • Journeyman point guard Bryce Cotton has reportedly received a 10-day contract offer from an NBA team, writes O. Cauchi of Sportando. The 24-year-old, however, has elected to stay with the Perth Wildcats for the time being. The report originated from Australian journalist Boti Nagy.
  • The NBA All-Star Game reserves have been announced. Ben Golliver of Sports Illustrated looks at the biggest snubs that didn’t make the roster, including rookie Joel Embiid and injured Chris Paul.
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Larry Sanders Works Out For Celtics

January 27th, 2017 at 8:59am CST by Arthur Hill

Former Bucks center Larry Sanders recently held a workout with the Celtics, according to Keith Smith of Celticsblog. He’s not expected to sign any time soon, but the session reportedly went well and both sides plan to remain in touch.

Sanders referenced the workout on an Instagram post, then followed that up with one saying, “Boston what’s good?” He tweeted his intentions to return to the NBA Thursday evening with a post that read, “Officially stepping back into the game, looking for a good fit but it shouldn’t be long now, I really missed the game, I think it missed me 2.”

Sanders hasn’t played since the 2014/15 season, when he announced that he was quitting for personal reasons. Milwaukee waived him under the stretch provision, and he remains on the team’s cap at $1,865,547 per season through 2021/22. That figure would decline if he signs with another organization.

Sanders, now 28, could potentially provide the defensive and rebounding force the Celtics need. In the 2012/13 season, the last time he was fully healthy, he averaged 9.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game. Injuries and off-the-court problems limited him to 50 games over his last two seasons in the league.

Boston is at the league maximum of 15 players, so the team would have to open a roster spot to sign Sanders. The Celtics have a pro-rated Room Exception available, along with a little more than $1.1MM in cap space. He could also agree to a veteran’s minimum contract.
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Bucks Notes: Novak, R. James, Sanders

August 30th, 2016 at 3:06pm CST by Luke Adams

After signing Jason Terry last week, the Bucks have continued to fill out their roster with veterans, announcing a deal for Steve Novak on Monday and reportedly reaching an agreement with Xavier Henry today. We’ve got more details and notes related to those signings, plus a couple more Bucks-related items, so let’s dive right in and round them up…

  • Novak signed a one-year, minimum-salary contract with the Bucks, per Charles F. Gardner of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. For Novak, who has 10 years of NBA experience under his belt, that will mean a salary worth about $1.552MM, though it will count for just $980K against Milwaukee’s cap.
  • Within that same piece, Gardner notes that Novak is healthy and won’t face any restrictions as a result of the MCL injury he suffered back in February. The veteran sharpshooter told Gardner that he’s excited to continue playing for his hometown team. “We really believe the Bucks are the best fit for me right now,” Novak said. “It’s a perfect storm. It just comes down to … we’d move every single year. It’s our way of life and we love it. But it’s great (to stay in Milwaukee).”
  • The Bucks had interest in signing guard Ra’Shad James, who played for the team in Summer League, according to Gery Woelfel of The Racine Journal-Times (via Twitter). However, James opted to play in Croatia this season instead, presumably recognizing that he’d face long odds to earn a roster spot with the Bucks.
  • Former Bucks forward Larry Sanders, who remains on the team’s cap through the 2021/22 season, has drawn NBA interest this summer and continues to contemplate a comeback, though some clubs have concerns about how much he really loves basketball, writes Mike Piellucci of Vice Sports. Piellucci’s piece goes into plenty of detail and provides greater context about Sanders’ life and his history with basketball, and is worth reading.
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Eastern Notes: Terry, Sanders, Wall, Forbes

August 28th, 2016 at 10:01pm CST by Arthur Hill

A shot at playing time may have been what most attracted Jason Terry to the Bucks, according to Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times. Terry appeared in 72 games and averaged 17.5 minutes per night for the Rockets last season, and apparently he’s not ready for a reduced role, even with his 39th birthday looming next month. After missing out on free agent guards Kent Bazemore and Dwyane Wade, the Bucks turned to Terry, who ranks third on the list of most 3-pointers made in a career. “Whether he gets 40 minutes, four minutes or no minutes, he’ll accept it and be professional about it,’’ said Terry’s agent, Ryan N. Davis. “He’s excited to be with Milwaukee and help them.’’

There’s more news tonight from the Eastern Conference:

  • Former Bucks center Larry Sanders has no interest in signing a deal that is only guaranteed for training camp, tweets Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders. Sanders, who hasn’t played since leaving the NBA in December of 2014 because of anxiety and depression, is looking for a situation that offers a real opportunity to make a 15-man roster.
  • Wizards point guard John Wall is going through intense rehab as he tries to bounce back from two knee surgeries in May, writes Ben Standig of CSNMidAtlantic. Wall, who is expected to be ready for the start of next season, promises “the beginning of the new John Wall era” and says he’s trying to get in the best shape of his career.
  • Former Nuggets and Raptors wing Gary Forbes is among the most likely players taken by the Long Island Nets in this week’s expansion draft to actually play for the D-League team, according to NetsDaily.com. Most of the draftees have overseas contracts for next season, but the 31-year-old Forbes doesn’t. Other possibilities are swingmen Carrick Felix and Akil Mitchell.
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And-Ones: Cap Room, L. Sanders, R. Smith, RFAs

July 27th, 2016 at 1:16pm CST by Luke Adams

The Sixers, Nuggets, Nets, Thunder, and Lakers have the most cap room still available, as Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders details. In addition to those five clubs, the Timberwolves, Suns, Jazz, Celtics, Pacers, and Bucks also have some wiggle room remaining. While some of those clubs could use that cap space to try to sign a free agent like J.R. Smith or Lance Stephenson, I’d expect many of those teams to stay well below the cap throughout the year. Remaining $10-15MM below the cap would allow a team to accommodate a mid-season salary dump, potentially picking up a draft pick or two in the process.

Here are a few more odds and ends from around the NBA:

  • Larry Sanders, who has been working out and is considering an NBA comeback, may be willing to play for a minumum-salary contract, according to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders (via Twitter). It remains to be seen whether a team will take a flier on the former Bucks big man.
  • Lang Greene of Basketball Insiders identifies a few players who will be under pressure to perform in 2016/17 due to big new free agent contracts or roles that changed as a result of other players’ deperatures.
  • Former Louisville guard Russ Smith, who appeared in 15 games for the Grizzlies last season, has accepted a $1MM contract offer from Galatasaray, according to international basketball reporter David Pick (via Twitter). Mete Budak of Eurohoops pegs the former second-round pick’s salary at $850K, so the Turkish team may have included some bonuses in the deal.
  • Jesse Blancarte of Basketball Insiders explains why he thinks the NBA’s restricted free agency system has problems, and puts forth some suggestions to potentially improve it. Donatas Motiejunas of the Rockets is the only RFA still on the market this summer.
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Southeast Notes: Teague, Hawks, Heat, Wizards

July 27th, 2016 at 10:33am CST by Luke Adams

The three-way trade that sent Jeff Teague to Indiana earlier this offseason came as a bit of a surprise, but Teague himself wasn’t totally caught off guard by the deal. As he tells Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders, Teague had been informed by the Hawks that an offseason trade may be in the cards.

“Me and the Hawks talked a bit and we agreed to be open with each other and try to help each other facilitate a nice deal,” Teague said. “So I knew it was coming [eventually], but I didn’t know when. When I got the news, Coach Bud let me know that he would be trading me home. It was bittersweet, but I’m excited about a new start and a new opportunity.”

Here’s more from around the Southeast division:

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Pacific Notes: Sanders, Kings, Joerger, Smith

July 10th, 2016 at 10:20pm CST by Arthur Hill

Despite losing two centers this summer, the Warriors haven’t reached out to Larry Sanders, writes Monte Poole of CSNBayArea. The former Bucks big man was an elite rim protector before he walked away from the game in December of 2014, citing anxiety and depression. Sanders is considering a comeback and sparked speculation on Saturday when he sent out two messages on Twitter: an image of a cavalier and a scene from a 1979 movie titled “The Warriors.” Golden State needs to find replacements for Andrew Bogut, who was traded to Dallas to create cap room for Kevin Durant, and Festus Ezeli, who signed with the Trail Blazers as a free agent.

There’s more news from the Pacific Division:

  • The Kings are getting plenty of calls from teams interested in Rudy Gay, Kosta Koufos and Ben McLemore, tweets James Ham of CSNCalifornia. So far, they haven’t heard an offer they like.
  • New Kings coach Dave Joerger doesn’t plan to coach any more summer league games, tweets Jason Jones of The Sacramento Bee. Joerger said he started out in that role to set the tone for the rest of the staff.
  • The Kings and Clippers are among the teams that worked out J.R. Smith‘s brother this weekend in Las Vegas, tweets Chris Haynes of Cleveland.com. Chris Smith‘s only NBA experience came in two games with the Knicks in 2013.
  • Ryan McDonough’s first plan for a quick turnaround in Phoenix didn’t work, so now he’s rebuilding through the draft, writes Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. With two picks in the top eight, the Suns grabbed highly regarded power forward prospects Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss. Their only free agent pickup so far this summer is veteran shooting guard Jared Dudley for $30MM over three years, a modest sum in this year’s market. “That’s certainly the most sustainable way to do it,” McDonough said about his draft strategy. “If you can draft those guys and have them under control for four years on the rookie scale and then have a bunch of advantages in terms of contract extensions and full Bird rights, that really helps.”
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