The Milwaukee Bucks have dramatically changed up their roster from last season after trading away star point guard Brandon Jennings and seeing Monta Ellis sign with Dallas, but one player that will remain the same is center Larry Sanders.
After reports came out recently that the team was nearing an extension with him, Yahoo Sports is now reporting that the deal is basically done and is for four-years and $44 million and could go up to $48 million due to bonuses. According to Yahoo, the 24-year-old is being looked at as a franchise player for the Bucks and at 24-years-old the team sees him as a building block for the future as they rebuild after trading Jennings and losing Ellis.
The Bucks have been one of the most active teams in the offseason and have added O.J. Mayo, Carlos Delfino and Zaza Pachulia as well as Luke Ridnour in a trade with the Timberwolves. Sanders is young and is one of the most athletic defensive big men in the league after averaging 9.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game in just his third season. The team wanted to get the deal done before the October deadline for players who were drafted back in 2010.
The Bucks took him with the 15th overall pick and clearly things have worked out since them after he came out of Virginia Commonwealth. The Bucks made the playoffs last season and got swept away by the Miami Heat and Sanders averaged 10.8 points and 8.3 rebounds in the series and now is going to be looked at as a leader on the Bucks. The team had some high turnover from last season, but having Sanders in the fold will only be good for the franchise and the fan base as they try to build up again.
Sanders was excellent blocking shots last season and ranked second in the NBA with 2.8 per game and he also averaged 9.8 points and nine rebounds per game last season as well while being a top perimeter defender.
The team is rebuilding, but there is some hope for the future with names like Brandon Knight, O.J. Mayo, Gary Neal and Carlos Defino now in the fold after losing Jennings and Monta Ellis and coach Larry Drew feels that the roster has talent. ESPN.com is reporting that the team is nearing a deal for Sanders, as the end of October marks the deadline to give him and extension and this comes after John Wall already signed a very lucrative one.
Last season the Bucks leading shot blocker was not placed on the All-Defensive team and now he appears to be the most prominent player the Bucks have grown left on the roster. The team also lost JJ Redick in a trade as well as Mike Dunleavy and they also added Zaza Pachulia, who followed Drew from Atlanta to Milwaukee. The Bucks made it into the playoffs as the eighth seed last season and Sanders was one of the top players while averaging 9.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in just 27.3 minutes per game last season.
