Discussion: Should the Bucks trade Larry Sanders?

[SkilesTheLimit]

With the way Herb Kohl hates bad PR, I'm 100% sure that if they hadn't given Larry the extension this off-season this would be his last season with the Bucks.

No way Herb dishes out 4 yr/$44 mil to a guy with legal and perceived mental issues.

[Badgerlander]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDe9msExUK8[/youtube]

[LUKE23]

Luke23, I'm sure glad you're not running this team. Move Larry, he's not the face of the franchise, he's just another Stephen Jackson.

We should trade him for Monta Ellis straight up.

[Nebula1]

How does Larry become an albatross?

Defense doesn't just disappear unless there is an injury that hampers athleticism. Which didn't happen here.

I'm more concerned with him helping us win than having a Gadzuric kind of situation with Sanders.

Rather, I think he still has a lot of value, and he would only be traded if this incident would act as an excuse for Kohl to make a tank trade based on his demand for high character players.

If Sanders doesn't produce like he did and it turns out it was a fluke, then that's a pretty rough contract. I'm not suggesting that's the case, but it's certainly possible.

Personally I don't think his trade value is that low. I don't think the incident matters at all and only production does, so until he gets back on the floor, his value is on hold since what little we saw of him this season wasn't good.

[Be Here Now]

I think outside of Bone and a few other subpar GM's, most aren't gonna make a trade based on the extremely small sample size of a quarter season (or in Larry's case just a couple games). So if some team was enormed with him and wanted to trade say an unprotected first round pick in the next couple drafts...done deal.

Same for Ersan. I don't think his value is down all that much from last year. Most teams will realize the Bucks are idiots and have been playing him hurt so that's why his numbers are down.

I'm to the point where I don't want the Bucks to do ANYTHING until Hammond is gone. At this point he will only screw this tank up.

[Sky High]

I think it's still a little to early to trade Larry. He has almost no value as of now. We'd get nothing but scraps.

If a team is dumb enough to trade a 1st round pick, I'd do it in a second.

Larry will be gone. Maybe not this season, but definitely by the end of next season. Red flags all over the damn place. I tried to ignore them...but I just can't anymore.

I just don't want a guy like this on my team. Maybe if he was an all-star caliber player...but yeah...he's not. And likely never will be. Overpaid shot-blocker.

[Brapman]

Pistons fan:

Actually, I like how Hammond went about his business for you guys this summer. He put you in perfect tank position. You guys don't want to hear this, I know, but Jennings is playing like a guy primarily concerned for being a pure point. He's taken control of a brand new team with a lot of talent that's furiously trying to gel - and that started the season in a massive shooting slump. But Pistons fans have really been delighted by his play. He's a great ballhandler and doesn't turn it over much while being a high assist guy. He doesn't have a great shooting percentage, but a lot of his shots are emergency hoists because the offensive sets have broken down. The thing you guys did trading him is to insure you'll be worse this season, because you clearly have nobody to play the point. Knight is NOT a true PG. He's a guy who could become a scoring point, and who needs to be surrounded by hub offensive players at other positions. Right now, you have nobody who does that - except for Giannis.

Giannis is the key. In a redraft, I pick him #1 in the entire draft. I see the other two best players in this draft,long term, being MCW who could be an elite PG if he learns to shoot (iffy, but possible, and that kid has game - everything you'd want from a PG at both ends of the court), and KCP. KCP is a fabulous defender, and his shot's coming around. But Giannis could actually become Magic Johnson. I'm serious about that. His potential is obvious, and to my eye, the kid knows how to play.

Your team also has Henson, who I'm very high on. If you're lucky, Sanders won't turn out to be a massive team cancer, but even without him, Knight can become a useful player still. And I think you made a great move in snatching Middleton from us. Pistons fans were bummed that he was the throw in in that deal.

But you can add a major star in the 2014 draft to pair with Giannis and that's why you guys have a potentially bright future. This was a brilliant year to tank, and you guys were set up by your GM to tank. The pick of Giannis was a major risk, but Hammond wasn't foolish to take the shot. Any team with two major stars gets to contend someday. If you can keep Giannis and your 2014 pick happy and on your team, in 5 years or so, you could be a top team. You had to give up Jennings to do that - and Jennings absolutely has the potential to be a great PG in this league, but you were very smart to position yourself for the future by making that deal.

In Detroit, you'll have to contend with the best C in the league in Drummond and potentially a great PG in Jennings, plus Monroe, KCP. In 3-5 seasons this could be a wicked-fun rivalry.

[Dobber-16]

Luke23, I'm sure glad you're not running this team. Move Larry, he's not the face of the franchise, he's just another Stephen Jackson.

We should trade him for Monta Ellis straight up.

Let it go man, let it go. At least Monta didn't have any issues off the court.

Larry Sanders is not worth the money he will be receiving in the future. It's time to cut bait, no matter if his value is at it lowest. He'll be a locker room cancer, if isn't one already. He's just too unstable for this franchise.

He has had one good season, was very good defensively last season. He has yet to develop on the offensive side of the ball. Basically he's not worth the contract he signed. Bucks overpaid, period.

I'm tired of having these type knuckleheads represent our team.

[Lippo]

The dude was invited to the Team USA camp.. hes a top 30-40 player the game when his head is on right, give him a break. All the Bogut love, don't get it, he's a #1 overall that can't get into an all-star game, Hes Brad Miller with out a jump shot or the free throw %. Hes about = to Marvin Williams as a bust. Hes not even the best center on his team even though hes 6-7 years younger.

[Wooderson]

Pistons fan:

Actually, I like how Hammond went about his business for you guys this summer. He put you in perfect tank position. You guys don't want to hear this, I know, but Jennings is playing like a guy primarily concerned for being a pure point. He's taken control of a brand new team with a lot of talent that's furiously trying to gel - and that started the season in a massive shooting slump. But Pistons fans have really been delighted by his play. He's a great ballhandler and doesn't turn it over much while being a high assist guy. He doesn't have a great shooting percentage, but a lot of his shots are emergency hoists because the offensive sets have broken down.

I've watched a fair amount of Pistons ball and the bigger issue for Jennings is his defense. He's making Steve Nash look like a good defender. That was my biggest gripe with him in Milwaukee the last couple years. His rookie year he was a solid defender under Skiles but that eventually wore off. Good luck to you. Maybe Drummond can get him to care about the other end of the court.

[JimmyTheKid]

This was a brilliant year to tank, and you guys were set up by your GM to tank. The pick of Giannis was a major risk, but Hammond wasn't foolish to take the shot.

Except our GM wasn't trying to tank. He made all of those moves in hopes of WINNING NOW. And drafting Giannis at #15 wasn't a "major risk." You're not usually going to land a difference maker in that slot, so you go with the unknown. Yes, it was a great pick. But not risky at all. And most of us wanted Hammond to go for a high risk, high reward guy.

[bizarro]

Luke23, I'm sure glad you're not running this team. Move Larry, he's not the face of the franchise, he's just another Stephen Jackson.

We should trade him for Monta Ellis straight up.

Let it go man, let it go. At least Monta didn't have any issues off the court.

I beg to disagree. Know your history:

http://www.sportingnews.com/nhl/story/2012-06-08/monta-ellis-sexual-harassment-golden-state-warriors-erika-smith

[ampd]

The double standards we hold athletes to are hilarious.

People were defending Mark Chmura, Brett Favre, Ryan Braun, etc. through all their BS and character issues, but Larry gets into a fight when he was drunk and he goes from fan favorite to dangerous thug that must be traded. Whatever.

[emunney]

Pistons fan:

Actually, I like how Hammond went about his business for you guys this summer. He put you in perfect tank position. You guys don't want to hear this, I know, but Jennings is playing like a guy primarily concerned for being a pure point. He's taken control of a brand new team with a lot of talent that's furiously trying to gel - and that started the season in a massive shooting slump.

Keep thinking it's a slump.

But Pistons fans have really been delighted by his play. He's a great ballhandler and doesn't turn it over much while being a high assist guy. He doesn't have a great shooting percentage, but a lot of his shots are emergency hoists because the offensive sets have broken down.

And why did the offensive sets break down? "I needed to take those shots."

The thing you guys did trading him is to insure you'll be worse this season, because you clearly have nobody to play the point. Knight is NOT a true PG. He's a guy who could become a scoring point, and who needs to be surrounded by hub offensive players at other positions. Right now, you have nobody who does that - except for Giannis.

We're worse because we've been missing our two best players from last year. This is true. But that's Ersan and Sanders, not Jennings and Monta.

Giannis is the key. In a redraft, I pick him #1 in the entire draft. I see the other two best players in this draft,long term, being MCW who could be an elite PG if he learns to shoot (iffy, but possible, and that kid has game - everything you'd want from a PG at both ends of the court), and KCP. KCP is a fabulous defender, and his shot's coming around. But Giannis could actually become Magic Johnson. I'm serious about that. His potential is obvious, and to my eye, the kid knows how to play.

You had me until Magic Johnson. I like the cut of your jib, though. Nay, I like the whole jib.

But you can add a major star in the 2014 draft to pair with Giannis and that's why you guys have a potentially bright future. This was a brilliant year to tank, and you guys were set up by your GM to tank. The pick of Giannis was a major risk, but Hammond wasn't foolish to take the shot. Any team with two major stars gets to contend someday. If you can keep Giannis and your 2014 pick happy and on your team, in 5 years or so, you could be a top team. You had to give up Jennings to do that - and Jennings absolutely has the potential to be a great PG in this league, but you were very smart to position yourself for the future by making that deal.

Again agree with most of this, although I'm not as optimistic about our outlook, and I don't think Jennings won us any more games than he cost us last season.

In Detroit, you'll have to contend with the best C in the league in Drummond and potentially a great PG in Jennings, plus Monroe, KCP. In 3-5 seasons this could be a wicked-fun rivalry.

I hope for your sake that Jennings is a potentially great PG but I seriously doubt it. I feel I have a pretty good handle on his trajectory at this point.

I also notice you didn't mention Josh Smith in this entire post. Does that mean what I think it means?

[Ron Swanson]

It's time to cut bait, no matter if his value is at it lowest. He'll be a locker room cancer, if isn't one already. He's just too unstable for this franchise.

Please tell me where anyone of his teammates or coaches has ever implied such an accusation. Seems to me like many arguments for trading Larry are based on pure speculation and personal bias. You guys are hilarious.

Don't like the guy's fiery personality? Fine, but don't just label guys bad teammates and "cancers" just because you can't differentiate their off the court behavior from how they act with their team.

One off the court incident and the guy all of a sudden goes from a near untouchable asset to "overrated locker room cancer" that needs to be dealt asap? If you think that trading Larry as soon as he gets healthy is a good idea, then your just as dumb as Hambone. It would be oh so typical Bucks in the cruelest way, lighting recently invested money on fire AND selling at incredibly low value...

[LUKE23]

Let it go man, let it go. At least Monta didn't have any issues off the court.

Larry Sanders is not worth the money he will be receiving in the future. It's time to cut bait, no matter if his value is at it lowest. He'll be a locker room cancer, if isn't one already. He's just too unstable for this franchise.

He has had one good season, was very good defensively last season. He has yet to develop on the offensive side of the ball. Basically he's not worth the contract he signed. Bucks overpaid, period.

I'm tired of having these type knuckleheads represent our team.

You've had an agenda against Sanders forever. Now 5 bad games and one off court incident gives you the right to say definitively that he's not worth his contract? Hilarious. Where were you all last season when he was the best paint defender in the league, the primary reason we made the playoffs, and Monta was throwing up a .470 TS with horrendous defense?

[Serge28]

@ trading Sanders while his value is at its lowest ever. This thread is dumb.

[Lippo]

:lol:

The double standards we hold athletes to are hilarious.

People were defending Mark Chmura, Brett Favre, Ryan Braun, etc. through all their BS and character issues, but Larry gets into a fight when he was drunk and he goes from fan favorite to dangerous thug that must be traded. Whatever.

Agreed, Our fans are backstabbers, Larry is the type of player that this will affect his play as well. He seems like the kind of guy that would die going to battle for you if you support him and have his back, but loses all motivation when hurt. I think his performance last year was spurred on my the fans support, and his demise could be as well. He is a bit like Rodman or Artest in that way, but when focused and motivated he is exactly what this team need going forward. So he got in a fight.. who cares, hes not dating you daughters, hes a basketball player not a role model. Social media is ruining sports, these athletes are under such scrutiny its ridiculous. 90% of us if followed my a camera 16 hours would be in the same situation, we have all been in a fight, or cheated on a girlfriend, or drove drunk, or did drugs, or cheated on a test... Give these guys a break.

[BobbyLight]

I'm guessing the people who want to trade Sanders now would have never traded Redd for Z-Bo and that worked so well for us. Sometimes guys with massive character flaws need time to grow out of them. Granted, sometimes it takes a change of scenery but I don't think that's the issue here. He just needs time to mature and if we traded him before giving him that chance, it would be short sighted.

Come back to me if the character issues are the same or worse a year or two from now and he's still not productive on the court, then I'll give up on him. Right now, he's got time in my book. It's not like this team is winning anything this year.

[ampd]

Regarding his contract, the truth is that good paint defending big men (or even guys that look like they could be), regardless of offense, are getting paid what Larry is getting. You can definitely argue that has produced some questionable allocations of money in the league, but it is reality.

If we think this is some kind of harbinger of future Michael Vick level criminal liability, then sure, lets cut bait now.

If we just want to trade him because its embarrassing that he made a public mistake (which is the real reason Senator Kohl has made these moves in the past) then that makes no sense if your objective is to do the best thing for your basketball team.

The responsible thing to do would be to get Larry help if he needs it.