Marc Stein ‏@ESPNSteinLine · 35m35 minutes ago
ESPN sources: Bucks have opened buyout discussions with big man Larry Sanders -->

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Buyout discussions have begun between the Milwaukee Bucks and Larry Sanders that would make the recently suspended big man a free agent, according to league sources.

Sanders has served a 10-game suspension for violating the league's anti-drug program but has not returned to the team and is not expected to play for Milwaukee again. He has been listed as out for "personal reasons" in each of the Bucks' past three games.

Larry Sanders

AP Photo/David Zalubowski
Larry Sanders has not played since Dec. 23.

The 26-year-old has been adamant that he wants to resume his NBA career despite the personal struggles that have resulted in two league suspensions in less than a year.

"Soon you all will know the truth," Sanders tweeted last week.

When asked last week about Sanders' status, Bucks coach Jason Kidd told local reporters: "That will be determined during the break."

Because of thumb and eye injuries -- as well as suspensions -- Sanders has appeared in just 50 games for Milwaukee since landing a four-year, $44 million contract extension during the summer of 2013.

He's been one of the league's most impactful defensive big men when he's been on the floor, but the surprising Bucks -- off to a 30-23 start under Kidd -- have coped well without him this season, posting a 12-7 record in those games while relying on the likes of John Henson, Ersan Ilyasova, Zaza Pachulia and the recently signed Kenyon Martin.

NBA players don't face suspensions for violating the league's anti-drug policy until their third such violation. Sanders was suspended for the final five games of the 2013-14 season and, through the most recent suspension, forfeited more than $1 million of his $11 million salary this season.

yellowboy90 wrote:This is probably not the town for him and to me he is not worth the risk for anything more than $4-5M. I will say that Ny is in a position where they need to take risk on unstable players but they have to do it at a small price.

CrushAlot wrote:Sanders has the same measurements as Cousins.

Cousins is like 275 pounds Sanders is like 230. Two different players.

yellowboy90 wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:Sanders has the same measurements as Cousins.

What are you getting at or are you just making a simple statement?

WaltLongmire wrote:How does a buyout work with a guy who is signed until 2017-8 at $11M/yr? Big difference from the Amare situation.

On a veteran team with strong leaders, he might have a chance to succeed. Knicks don't fit this description.

Playing in NYC could be an issue, but he screwed up in Milwaukee, which is not exactly known for big city perils... or is it?

Knicks could definitely use a shot blocker, but you cannot pay him significant $$ and very little, if any, should be guaranteed.

Not sure Phil will even give him a look, but who knows. I would only take him on if everything from us is non-guaranteed.

Basically, since contracts are guaranteed the player has a lot of leverage. So, generally the best a team can hope for is to be able to buy them out for the total amount of the contract less what the player could reasonably make playing over that course of the contract for other teams on low cost/minimum deals, etc.

i would rather not be the first...

But we prob have no shot

gunsnewing wrote:He's my #1 C/PF to put next to Towns/Ok4. I just didn't think he'd be available. GET HIM!

But we prob have no shot