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Welcome Larry Sanders and So Long

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The fact that he's down with Canton after the Houston game showed our desperate, immediate need for some rebounding and interior defense should tell you everything you need to know about how far from ready the FO thinks he is.
 
I feel like I have a really good handle on Sanders and want to provide some background.

First off, its been 4 years since he was a good player. Obviously, he hasn't played the last two seasons. The season before that he was suspended 3 times for smoking weed and was absolutely a problem for the Bucks. The team voted to not allow him to travel to their game in London with the team. He was sent home soon thereafter.

The season before that was a mess. He was injured essentially the entire season and only ended up playing 23 games. Most of those he was really limited in. He was always a pretty thin player and the bruising really did take its toll on him.

It was the 2012-2013 season that he was a real breakout player. And that was 4 years ago. Followed by 2 years of headaches and problems and diminishing play.

He got in trouble for leaving his dog outside for entire road trips in the frigid WI winters (and was cited for animal cruelty). He got in trouble for getting in a hilarious bar fight with eastern Europeans (look for the video, its funny) while his sig other was 9 months pregnant. The mental health issue is a real thing and is not to be diminished. His decision making off the court has always been problematic. The bigger concern is that from the day he signed his 4 year extension he stopped playing.

He had come in for a workout previously and been told he wasn't in shape and to come back when he was. To his credit he had clearly improved his conditioning. Still, he had bragged about not picking up a ball for a year and had been unable to take the pounding when he WAS in peak physical condition so it really is a significant concern. Which is why I think the Cavs' plan to play him in Canton works so well.

I really don't believe he is going to be able to contribute meaningfully this season. There is just too much work to be done and just not enough time.

Still, he does have some real defensive talent. Which is why I love the TO for next year. If he is actually committed to this (and there are obstacles here that weren't on the table with Pipe and DWill I), he could very well become a real asset next year.

Also, he is a godawful shooter and there were days he would spray mid range jumpers all over the backboard. He is going to need to be reigned in. While LeBron has been able to do that with everyone else, everyone else isn't Sanders.
 
Sir'Dom Pointer said:
Not sure he is going to give us much this year. I'm hoping for the best.
I wonder if we should have gone with Moreland.. You can't overstate just how conditioned you have to be in order to play in the NBA.
He hasn't played in over 3 years.
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Everyone keeps saying 3 years, 4 years, etc.
This is not true, Sanders last NBA game was Dec. 23rd, 2014, which was 2 years and 2 months ago.
 
I think we are all just speculating wildly here.. including myself of course.

I highly doubt we would have signed him if the FO did not expect him to make an impact THIS year. We are all in to repeat and while some here want our FO to be more forward thinking this is not how our Team works right now.

He looks pretty damn fit on recent Photos.. now of course he has to get into game shape too wich is an entirley different thing from beeing in Shape overall.

What i wanted to say was: Yes the optimists(myself included) dont know if he will be in any shape at all this year.

On the other hand the pessimists dont know it either. It could be that he has kept himself in great form wich will make the adjustment much quicker. Maybe he ran a few miles every day for a year now and practiced his ass off.
People simply dont assume it because he has a bad rep.

I am giving him every chance to prove every doubter wrong.

Again.. i fully trust our FO that they would have signed a guy like Moreland if they where sure Larry would not be able to contribute very soon
 
Yeah that is a bit of a reality check that they are sending him to the d league. Was thinking how much worse could he be really than bird man was right? But he must really need some work to get back in game shape


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Just looked at his Instagram account.

YIKES.

The dude's calves are so skinny, they make @Damage 's look like tree trunks.

AoPgf6q.png
 
RedeemTeam said:
Everyone keeps saying 3 years, 4 years, etc.
This is not true, Sanders last NBA was Dec. 23rd, 2014, which was 2 years and 2 months ago.
Click to expand...

His very good season was in 2012-2013. In 2013-2014 he was injured and only played 23 games. In 2014-2015 he quit on his team, he wasn't allowed to travel with the team and played only 27 games(While being terrible) when he called it quits.

So 3 years is being generous.
 
I'd like to say the fact that the Cavs got him for some kind of non-guaranteed second year AND got him to agree to go to the D-League..no, he did not have any other suitors. Clearly.
 
HurricaneKid said:
I feel like I have a really good handle on Sanders and want to provide some background.

First off, its been 4 years since he was a good player. Obviously, he hasn't played the last two seasons. The season before that he was suspended 3 times for smoking weed and was absolutely a problem for the Bucks. The team voted to not allow him to travel to their game in London with the team. He was sent home soon thereafter.

The season before that was a mess. He was injured essentially the entire season and only ended up playing 23 games. Most of those he was really limited in. He was always a pretty thin player and the bruising really did take its toll on him.

It was the 2012-2013 season that he was a real breakout player. And that was 4 years ago. Followed by 2 years of headaches and problems and diminishing play.

He got in trouble for leaving his dog outside for entire road trips in the frigid WI winters (and was cited for animal cruelty). He got in trouble for getting in a hilarious bar fight with eastern Europeans (look for the video, its funny) while his sig other was 9 months pregnant. The mental health issue is a real thing and is not to be diminished. His decision making off the court has always been problematic. The bigger concern is that from the day he signed his 4 year extension he stopped playing.

He had come in for a workout previously and been told he wasn't in shape and to come back when he was. To his credit he had clearly improved his conditioning. Still, he had bragged about not picking up a ball for a year and had been unable to take the pounding when he WAS in peak physical condition so it really is a significant concern. Which is why I think the Cavs' plan to play him in Canton works so well.

I really don't believe he is going to be able to contribute meaningfully this season. There is just too much work to be done and just not enough time.

Still, he does have some real defensive talent. Which is why I love the TO for next year. If he is actually committed to this (and there are obstacles here that weren't on the table with Pipe and DWill I), he could very well become a real asset next year.

Also, he is a godawful shooter and there were days he would spray mid range jumpers all over the backboard. He is going to need to be reigned in. While LeBron has been able to do that with everyone else, everyone else isn't Sanders.
Click to expand...

I think it's interesting that Lue's comment about Sanders after his workout was:

"I just think it’s his mindset. I don’t think his talents went anywhere. Being able to block shots, run the floor, being athletic. I don’t think that’s going to change,” Lue said after today’s workout. “It’s just a mindset of, ‘Does he really want to play the game and does he still love it?’ If his mindset is right, he can definitely still play.”

I don't want to read too much into that, but it reads to me like Lue had definite questions about where Sanders' head is at. So that supports what you're saying about his attitude/mental status being the key issue. Wouldn't be the least bit surprised if weed is still an issue. Be more surprised if it wasn't.

On the plus side, we likely wouldn't only be expecting him to play 10-15 mpg -- 20 tops. His Slenderman body may be able to hold up for that.
 
HurricaneKid said:
I feel like I have a really good handle on Sanders and want to provide some background.

First off, its been 4 years since he was a good player. Obviously, he hasn't played the last two seasons. The season before that he was suspended 3 times for smoking weed and was absolutely a problem for the Bucks. The team voted to not allow him to travel to their game in London with the team. He was sent home soon thereafter.

The season before that was a mess. He was injured essentially the entire season and only ended up playing 23 games. Most of those he was really limited in. He was always a pretty thin player and the bruising really did take its toll on him.

It was the 2012-2013 season that he was a real breakout player. And that was 4 years ago. Followed by 2 years of headaches and problems and diminishing play.

He got in trouble for leaving his dog outside for entire road trips in the frigid WI winters (and was cited for animal cruelty). He got in trouble for getting in a hilarious bar fight with eastern Europeans (look for the video, its funny) while his sig other was 9 months pregnant. The mental health issue is a real thing and is not to be diminished. His decision making off the court has always been problematic. The bigger concern is that from the day he signed his 4 year extension he stopped playing.

He had come in for a workout previously and been told he wasn't in shape and to come back when he was. To his credit he had clearly improved his conditioning. Still, he had bragged about not picking up a ball for a year and had been unable to take the pounding when he WAS in peak physical condition so it really is a significant concern. Which is why I think the Cavs' plan to play him in Canton works so well.

I really don't believe he is going to be able to contribute meaningfully this season. There is just too much work to be done and just not enough time.

Still, he does have some real defensive talent. Which is why I love the TO for next year. If he is actually committed to this (and there are obstacles here that weren't on the table with Pipe and DWill I), he could very well become a real asset next year.

Also, he is a godawful shooter and there were days he would spray mid range jumpers all over the backboard. He is going to need to be reigned in. While LeBron has been able to do that with everyone else, everyone else isn't Sanders.
Click to expand...

Good post, thanks. Given how much dedication it will take for him to come back, his statements and social media over the last year worry me -- not a lot of humility or real self-examination there, he still seems pretty cocky.
 
brownsbuck6 said:
He is here, in the short term, to be a big presence inside, block/alter shots, and get some lobs and dunk put backs. I see no reason he can't do that immediately for 10-15 minutes a game, if he's in any kind of decent shape.
Click to expand...
They all involve timing which is the one thing that practice doesn't really prepare you for. Just like every player who has ever sat out extended periods
 
The Human Q-Tip said:
I think it's interesting that Lue's comment about Sanders after his workout was:

"I just think it’s his mindset. I don’t think his talents went anywhere. Being able to block shots, run the floor, being athletic. I don’t think that’s going to change,” Lue said after today’s workout. “It’s just a mindset of, ‘Does he really want to play the game and does he still love it?’ If his mindset is right, he can definitely still play.”

I don't want to read too much into that, but it reads to me like Lue had definite questions about where Sanders' head is at. So that supports what you're saying about his attitude/mental status being the key issue. Wouldn't be the least bit surprised if weed is still an issue. Be more surprised if it wasn't.

On the plus side, we likely wouldn't only be expecting him to play 10-15 mpg -- 20 tops. His Slenderman body may be able to hold up for that.
Click to expand...

I think they are just challenging him in an attempt to get him going. The question of how to get Sanders motivated was never answered properly in Milwaukee so who knows how he takes it. My biggest concern is almost what to do after NEXT season. I SURE don't want to give him a long term deal...

As far as risk/reward goes its a fine proposition. They are paying him league min for 20+ games and control his rights at league min for another full season after that.
 
cavsfever said:
Good post, thanks. Given how much dedication it will take for him to come back, his statements and social media over the last year worry me -- not a lot of humility or real self-examination there, he still seems pretty cocky.
Click to expand...

There is almost no self awareness. Its been shockingly poor for years.
 
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