Larry Sanders and the Milwaukee Bucks appear to be at odds over his future.
Sanders is in the first year of a 4-year, $44 million contract extension signed in Aug. 2013 and has not played since Dec. 23. Sanders initially was said to be out with an illness, but that was changed to personal reasons.
Now Racine Journal Times columnist Gery Woelfel says Sanders recently told some Bucks officials that he lacks interest in playing basketball.
“Sources tell me that Bucks center Larry Sanders recently told some Bucks officials that he doesn’t want to play basketball anymore,” Woelfel tweeted.
Adding to that story, Woelfel reports friends of Sanders said the same thing.
“Some friends of Sanders told me last summer they were concerned Sanders wasn’t committed to basketball and wanted to explore other options.”
The Bucks have been trying to trade Sanders, but few teams are interested.
It's hardly a secret Bucks have been trying to trade Sanders.Asked f the Bucks could trade Sanders now, an NBA official said: "Good luck.''
— Gery Woelfel (@GeryWoelfel) January 5, 2015
A Bucks official said the team had attempted to trade Sanders, along with Brandon Knight, to the Pacers last summer for Roy Hibbert.
— Gery Woelfel (@GeryWoelfel) January 5, 2015
Though Woelfel seems to have pretty solid information, his report is being disputed.
“I saw that tweet. It is not accurate at all. Rumor unsubstantiated,” Sanders’ agent Happy Sanders told Hoops Hype.
Sanders also denied the accuracy of the report.
Not trying to dispute anyone's reporting, but the idea that Larry Sanders told anyone he didn't want to play any more was news to Larry.
— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) January 5, 2015
Larry was out with the flu, has been dealing with some personal issues and is planning to re-join the team in the next couple of days.
— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) January 5, 2015
Sanders’ career has been troubled since his wonderful 2012-2013 season that helped him earn the contract extension. He tore a ligament in his thumb during a nightclub fight and missed 25 games. He was cited for cruelty to animals in late 2013, and he missed five games after testing positive for marijuana in April. He sounds like the next coming of Andrew Bynum.
