The Milwaukee Bucks requested waivers Saturday on beleaguered center Larry Sanders, officially bringing to an end Sanders's time in Milwaukee. Although Sanders is eligible to sign with a new team, Basketball Insiders' Steve Kyler reported Sanders will instead take the season off to sort out his personal issues.
Sanders's off-the-court issues, some which apparently led to the NBA suspending him for 12 games because of multiple drug-policy violations, led to the Bucks negotiating a buyout with Sanders and formally requesting waivers from the league on Saturday.
"We believe this decision is in the best interest of our team," Bucks general manager John Hammond said Sunday, according to the team website. "We wish Larry well and remain excited about the future of the Bucks organization."
Reports have claimed Sanders's buyout will earn him somewhere between $13 million to $15 million of the $33 million he was due over the next three years, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Although Sanders would be playoff-eligible for a new team this season if he were to sign somewhere, Kyler reported Sanders doesn't plan to do that.
"Word from Sanders side is he is not looking to join a new team anytime soon. Need time & space to sort his life," Kyler tweeted Sunday morning. "... Sources close to the process wouldn't rule Sanders out for next season, but said a return to basketball is currently not on the table. ... The problem with Sanders repeated violations of the drug policy is he can be tested at any time and has to go through counseling. ... Being out of the league allows Sanders to address his issues in his way and without the specter of the NBA Drug Program over his head."
