NBA Trade Rumors: Milwaukee Bucks Willing To Trade Center Larry Sanders
The Milwaukee Bucks are reportedly looking to shop center Larry Sanders, who just signed a four-year, $44 million deal extension last summer, a source close to situation reported this week.
Fox Sports Ohio NBA insider Sam Amico reported that the Bucks are open to trading Sanders, believing they can get a decent compensation by shopping away the 6-foot-11 defensive-oriented player. The NBA insider stressed the Bucks are taking the trade situation patiently as they wait for Sanders to return from a thumb injury.
"Milwaukee isn't rushing to move him, according to Amico, but executives around the league believe the Bucks would be willing to send him out if they received the right offer, which may be centered on draft considerations," the report stated.
However, Racine Journal Times writer Gery Woelfel believed a Sanders trade is not imminent because the center has yet to prove himself worthy of a big paycheck this season.
"Such an offer might not be forthcoming, since an executive recently indicated to Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times that teams around the league aren't too high on Sanders right now," according to the report.
Another stumbling block for the trade to happen is the "poison pill provision" on Sanders' extension contract. For a team to get Sanders, the ballclub has to absorb not only the $3.053 million salary Sanders is entitled this season, but the average of his current paycheck and the annual average of the extension deal, which amounts to $7.027 million.
"That figure is the average between Sanders' 2013/14 salary and the average annual value of his extension. So, any trade would have to include additional salary going out on both sides, or a third team," the site added.
Sanders had a breakout year last season as he averaged 9.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game for the Bucks. Playing under a new head coach this season, Sanders' numbers dropped dramatically, producing just 4.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2 blocks per outing.