The Milwaukee Bucks may want to trade Larry Sanders, but they'll have a hard time doing it. One report indicated Sanders is considering quitting the NBA and pursuing other options.
Sanders has missed six straight games and there's no timetable for his return. Bucks coach Jason Kidd said Sanders was out due to "personal reasons," but as Grantland's Zach Lowe pointed out, Kidd said the same thing about Andray Blatche last season when he coached the Brooklyn Nets.
"Kidd used this same language (regarding) 'personal reasons' last season (with) Blatche, and it was code for Kidd telling him to stay away from the team," Lowe tweeted last week.
The issue, though, could be bigger than that. According to Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times, Sanders may be finished with professional basketball.
"Some friends of Sanders told me last summer they were concerned Sanders wasn't committed to basketball and wanted to explore other options," Woelfel tweeted Monday. "... It's hardly a secret Bucks have been trying to trade Sanders. Asked (if) the Bucks could trade Sanders now, an NBA official said: 'Good luck.'"
Sanders has underperformed ever since signing his $44 million contract last summer. In addition to not becoming one of the franchise's cornerstones as was hoped for, he's had a number of off-the-court issues, including altercations with teammates and a bar fight.
His name was mentioned in rumors this season, but no team is likely to trade for the 6-foot-11 center given the recent turn of events.
He's averaging 7.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. If Milwaukee was to trade him, they have until Feb. 19.
UPDATE: Sanders's agent denies Woelfel's report.
