Former Milwaukee Bucks center Larry Sanders. (Photo : Getty Images)
The Golden State Warriors elected to pass up the chance to sign former NBA center Larry Sanders, according to recent reports.
After the acquisition of free agent superstar Kevin Durant, the Warriors had to let go some of its most reliable bench players such as Harrison Barnes, Festus Ezeli, and Leandro Barbosa. Even starting center Andrew Bogut had to go to give way to the massive two-year, $54.2 million deal the team gave Durant.
Golden State signed a few veteran role players to take their place, namely David West and Zaza Pachulia, and initial rumors were out that the club is also considering to sign the 27-year old Sanders
The former Milwaukee Bucks center accepted a buyout from the team and took an early retirement in February of last year, citing issues about "anxiety, depression, and mood disorders" as the cause. He even announced in a video he released later that month that he joined a program at Rogers Memorial Hospital to try and manage it.
Sanders said in the video that the time he spent in the sport of basketball was "not worth it" but he still loves the game and that he might return if he feels "capable of playing basketball again".
Just recently, Sanders cryptically posted a screenshot of the movie "The Warriors", which could mean that he is interested in coming back to the NBA to play for Golden State next season.
However, ESPN indicated that the Warriors initially considered signing the former VCU standout but ultimately decided not to pursue him for undisclosed reasons.
CBS Sports' James Herbert noted that Sander and the Warriors would have been a "perfect match" if the deal had pushed through as the 2015 NBA champions have a need to improve the team's rim protection.
At his best, Sanders "was one of the best shot blockers in the NBA", Herbert said, and "if he is serious about making a comeback and wants to compete for a championship, it is hard to imagine a better situation for him" than to join Golden State.
Pachulia, his former Bucks teammate, is already locked with the Warriors to a one-year, $2.9 million deal and it would have been ideal for Sanders to have a familiar face in the NBA team he will come back to.
