The Cleveland Cavaliers reportedly are interested in trading for Milwaukee Bucks center Larry Sanders. He joins a list of reported targets that includes Memphis Grizzlies center Kosta Koufos, Denver Nuggets center Timofey Mozgov, Los Angeles Lakers center Jordan Hill and Boston Celtics center Brandan Wright.
Cleveland needed a rim-protector this season, and the season-ending injury to center Anderson Varejao makes it a necessity now. With two first-round picks in 2015, a $5.3 million trade exception and talented players such as Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson, the Cavaliers appear poised to make a move before the Feb. 19 deadline passes.
The newest name linked to Cleveland, according to Basketball Insiders' Alex Kennedy, is Sanders.
Per Kennedy:
"I think they need to make a trade sooner than later. Because they play in the East, they're going to make the playoffs even if they struggle, but I think they should make a move so that they don't fall too far behind the top four teams in the conference. I agree that the Cavs desperately need a rim protector who can help them on the defensive end and on the glass. Larry Sanders is an interesting name that has been mentioned recently, but I'm not sure if the Bucks want to part ways with them. He's had a rough year and a half, but the organization does like him and believe in him."
New York Knicks center Samuel Dalembert, Wright and Hill were also named by Kennedy last week as possible targets, and Koufos and Mozgov have been reported as potential acquisitions for sometime now.
If Cleveland goes the free agency route to acquire a big man, veterans Jermaine O'Neal and Emeka Okafor are the best options.
The Cavaliers will likely be active before Jan. 7, the last day they can waive nonguaranteed contracts. They currently have three such contracts, which they'll likely drop in order to create roster spots - for signing free agents - if they cannot find a trade for any of the three players before then.
