He's BAAAAAACK!!!!

[wadesworld]

Just got the greatest day-after-Christmas gift EVER!  Could not imagine a better Christmas miracle!  This is exactly what the professional sports in Wisconsin has been missing over the past few weeks!  You guessed it, folks...LARRY SANDERS IS BACK!

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/237328421.html

[keefe]

[Hards Alumni]

Just got the greatest day-after-Christmas gift EVER!  Could not imagine a better Christmas miracle!  This is exactly what the professional sports in Wisconsin has been missing over the past few weeks!  You guessed it, folks...LARRY SANDERS IS BACK!

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/237328421.html

boooo this will not help the tank so I am against it.

[4everwarriors]

Hope they peddle his ass for a #1

[wadesworld]

Hope they peddle his ass for a #1

+1

boooo this will not help the tank so I am against it.

+1.  But he is very overrated.  Best attribute is his defense, which isn't a problem, but he's just not the all star that Milwaukee thinks he is because, well, Milwaukee doesn't know what an all star basketball player looks like.

[Hards Alumni]

+1

+1.  But he is very overrated.  Best attribute is his defense, which isn't a problem, but he's just not the all star that Milwaukee thinks he is because, well, Milwaukee doesn't know what an all star basketball player looks like.

When healthy, he is absolutely an all star.

That being said, I wouldn't cry if they traded him for a lotto pick.

[wadesworld]

When healthy, he is absolutely an all star.

That being said, I wouldn't cry if they traded him for a lotto pick.

Disagreed.  He averaged 10 and 10 last year, which obviously isn't anything to be embarrassed about, but at the same time when that is your "future" you know your future isn't all that bright.  Most of his effectiveness came from being a high energy guy, not natural ability.  He would be an incredible 4th man and defensive centerpiece, but to make him the centerpiece of your entire franchise would be like someone making Ben Wallace or Dennis Rodman the centerpiece of their franchise.  Just isn't going to work out well for you.

[martyconlonontherun]

Umm wasn't Ben Wallace the centerpiece of a championship team?

Also sanders is a top

[wadesworld]

Umm wasn't Ben Wallace the centerpiece of a championship team?

Also sanders is a top

The centerpiece of a championship team? No. Their defense maybe. But he was the fourth best player on that team. Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, and Tayshaun Prince were all better than Ben Wallace.

[Hards Alumni]

Disagreed.  He averaged 10 and 10 last year, which obviously isn't anything to be embarrassed about, but at the same time when that is your "future" you know your future isn't all that bright.  Most of his effectiveness came from being a high energy guy, not natural ability.  He would be an incredible 4th man and defensive centerpiece, but to make him the centerpiece of your entire franchise would be like someone making Ben Wallace or Dennis Rodman the centerpiece of their franchise.  Just isn't going to work out well for you.

Well more like 13 and 12.5 with 3.7 blk PER 36.

Making him the number 3 in blocks, 2 in blocks per game, 1 is block percentage, and 6th in defensive rating.

He is easily one of the best defenders in the league... and one of the youngest. 

You're right though, he may not be a true all star, but he is definitely trending to be one.

[wadesworld]

Well more like 13 and 12.5 with 3.7 blk PER 36.

Making him the number 3 in blocks, 2 in blocks per game, 1 is block percentage, and 6th in defensive rating.

He is easily one of the best defenders in the league... and one of the youngest. 

You're right though, he may not be a true all star, but he is definitely trending to be one.

Where do you get 13 and 12.5 from?  (Not saying that condescendingly, I just looked at his espn.com player page and it has him at 10 and 10, but that could be wrong)

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/4265/larry-sanders

I do agree that he is one of the best defenders in the league and his offense has improved, but I don't see his offense ever being a strength, as I see him more of a guy who does the dirty work for his offense vs. someone who just has a natural scoring ability (Durant, Curry, LeBron, etc.).  And I do think he could be a huge piece to a championship caliber team, if he ever gets his head on straight, but I don't think I would ever consider him an all star (guys like LeBron, Wade, Curry, Durant, Carmelo, Westbrook, Rose, etc. etc. etc.).  I think he will always be at least 1 step below those guys, which doesn't mean he's a bad player.

[Hards Alumni]

Where do you get 13 and 12.5 from?  (Not saying that condescendingly, I just looked at his espn.com player page and it has him at 10 and 10, but that could be wrong)

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/4265/larry-sanders

I do agree that he is one of the best defenders in the league and his offense has improved, but I don't see his offense ever being a strength, as I see him more of a guy who does the dirty work for his offense vs. someone who just has a natural scoring ability (Durant, Curry, LeBron, etc.).  And I do think he could be a huge piece to a championship caliber team, if he ever gets his head on straight, but I don't think I would ever consider him an all star (guys like LeBron, Wade, Curry, Durant, Carmelo, Westbrook, Rose, etc. etc. etc.).  I think he will always be at least 1 step below those guys, which doesn't mean he's a bad player.

I got mine from 36 PER, which is from the greatest basketball reference site! 

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sandela01.html

I agree.  He will never be one of the best players in the league because he doesn't have the ability to score.  But he still can be an all star.

[Hards Alumni]

Another interesting article yesterday about Larry.

http://www.celticslife.com/2013/12/larry-sanders-reportedly-available-why.html

If the Bucks could unload Larry's contract for a pick... and it was the Celtics unprotected pick... I'd be downright giddy.  Though, they'd be fools to do that trade.

[martyconlonontherun]

Another interesting article yesterday about Larry.

http://www.celticslife.com/2013/12/larry-sanders-reportedly-available-why.html

If the Bucks could unload Larry's contract for a pick... and it was the Celtics unprotected pick... I'd be downright giddy.  Though, they'd be fools to do that trade.

I wouldn't be giddy.
http://www.tankathon.com/
Celtics are holding down the last pick of the playoff teams. If they trade for Sanders, they are keeping Rondo and making a run at the playoffs. Getting the 15th pick in the draft with no lottery chance is not worth a quality defensive center.

That said, if that meant we kept pace with the bottom 3 teams it would be worth it. 3rd pick and 15th pick is better than the 6th and Sanders.

[Hards Alumni]

I wouldn't be giddy.
http://www.tankathon.com/
Celtics are holding down the last pick of the playoff teams. If they trade for Sanders, they are keeping Rondo and making a run at the playoffs. Getting the 15th pick in the draft with no lottery chance is not worth a quality defensive center.

That said, if that meant we kept pace with the bottom 3 teams it would be worth it. 3rd pick and 15th pick is better than the 6th and Sanders.

I would agree... except for this year.  The draft in June is absolutely stacked... and deep.  I'd take as many first rounders as I could.  Sanders is pretty damn good, but I'd rather have another pick.  When Sanders comes back he cuts into Henson's development.  As a result, Giannis' development as a starter would probably get pushed back as well.  Don't get me wrong, I'm a HUGE Larry Sanders fan, but I'm more of a fan of winning in the next couple of years... I worry that if we start playing with Larry soon, we will start winning more... and get less ping pong balls.

[4everwarriors]

I'm in favor of movin' all athletes who have proven to be idiots.

[wadesworld]

I'm in favor of movin' all athletes who have proven to be idiots.

+1

[martyconlonontherun]

I would agree... except for this year.  The draft in June is absolutely stacked... and deep.  I'd take as many first rounders as I could.  Sanders is pretty damn good, but I'd rather have another pick.  When Sanders comes back he cuts into Henson's development.  As a result, Giannis' development as a starter would probably get pushed back as well.  Don't get me wrong, I'm a HUGE Larry Sanders fan, but I'm more of a fan of winning in the next couple of years... I worry that if we start playing with Larry soon, we will start winning more... and get less ping pong balls.

I don't think this year's draft is that deep. Last year's draft was probably deeper with some pretty good Euro's in the late teens. We had a lot of early entrants last year due to the talent at the top in this year's draft IMO.
Who do you think in 13-20 range will be better than Sanders?
http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2014/

Also not sure how Sanders will hurt Giannis development? Gbo has been playing SG/SF a lot and if anything he would get more touches with Larry inside instead of Henson, who jacks up a ton a shots. I agree Sanders will hurt Henson's ability.

[Spotcheck Billy]

I thought this thread was gonna be about Aaron Rodgers 

[Hards Alumni]

I don't think this year's draft is that deep. Last year's draft was probably deeper with some pretty good Euro's in the late teens. We had a lot of early entrants last year due to the talent at the top in this year's draft IMO.
Who do you think in 13-20 range will be better than Sanders?
http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2014/

Also not sure how Sanders will hurt Giannis development? Gbo has been playing SG/SF a lot and if anything he would get more touches with Larry inside instead of Henson, who jacks up a ton a shots. I agree Sanders will hurt Henson's ability.

If Sanders comes back there will be more players and less minutes overall to go around.  Adding Sanders bumps Henson's minutes, which probably bumps Ersan's minutes to the SF role.  There are more rotations available with Sanders back, so Giannis getting less minutes is probably guaranteed.

The problem isn't who is better in the 13-20 range than Sanders, its that Larry is due $11 million dollars per year over the next four years.  If the Bucks can pull someone at a fourth of the salary and become better in the back court they have to do it.  Additionally, this coming years draft is probably the deepest since 2003... or 1996... maybe 1984 draft.

[brandx]

I wouldn't be giddy.
http://www.tankathon.com/
Celtics are holding down the last pick of the playoff teams. If they trade for Sanders, they are keeping Rondo and making a run at the playoffs. Getting the 15th pick in the draft with no lottery chance is not worth a quality defensive center.

That said, if that meant we kept pace with the bottom 3 teams it would be worth it. 3rd pick and 15th pick is better than the 6th and Sanders.

I think I disagree - the 3rd pick should bring a big-time scorer, making Sanders' defense even more important. And Henson doesn't have the bulk to play too many minutes at the '5'. That being said, IF they could get a lottery pick for him, I'd jump at it in a second. With this year's draft, there will be guys picked in the 10 - 14 range that will end up being on some all-star teams.

[brandx]

I'm in favor of movin' all athletes who have proven to be idiots.

Just athletes?

[brandx]

I don't think this year's draft is that deep. Last year's draft was probably deeper with some pretty good Euro's in the late teens. We had a lot of early entrants last year due to the talent at the top in this year's draft IMO.
Who do you think in 13-20 range will be better than Sanders?
http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2014/

Completely disagree. There could be several guys in that range who are better. Willie Cauley Stein will probably be a better player overall and there are several non-centers who could be better (no way Embiid lasts past the top 5 picks).

[4everwarriors]

Just athletes?

No, but there isn't a market for your basic idiot.

[Hards Alumni]

No, but there isn't a market for your basic idiot.

Well, television has no shortage.