One of the many advantages LeBron James brings the Cavaliers is instilling a culture where troubled players have a better chance of thriving.
It worked most famously with J.R. Smith, and now Cleveland will try for another reclamation project: Larry Sanders.
Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports:Larry Sanders has reached agreement on a contract with the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers, completing his return to the NBA, league sources told The Vertical.
Sanders and his agent, Joel Bell, traveled to Cleveland on Sunday, and Sanders will undergo a physical exam on Monday morning before signing the deal, league sources said. Sanders’ deal will cover the remainder of this season and likely include a guarantee trigger date for 2017-18, league sources said.
The Cavs hope Sanders will complement the undersized Tristan Thompson and perimeter-oriented Channing Frye at center. At his best, Sanders was a fierce shot-blocker and finisher.
Why was he available now?
Multiple suspensions for violating the NBA’s drug policy and confrontations on and off the court landed him in a program for anxiety, depression and mood disorders. Sanders, now 28, is far from a sure thing to contribute.
But Cleveland needs another big man with Andrew Bogut injured, and this is a high-upside roll of the dice.