HOUSTON _ The Cavaliers were poised to hit the reset button on acquiring the rim protector they've long sought, with Larry Sanders undergoing a physical in Cleveland on Monday morning.
Shams Charania of The Vertical, who first reported the Cavs' renewed interest in Sanders on Friday, posted on Twitter that Sanders was accompanied by his agent, Joel Bell, on his trip to Cleveland and that sides were finalizing an option year in his contract "for stability."
A league source later confirmed to the Beacon Journal that the Cavs were working toward signing Sanders on Monday.
In his career, Sanders has averaged 6.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocked shots in 113 games. His best season came with the Bucks in 2012-13, when he averaged 9.8 points and 9.5 rebounds in 71 games. The 15th overall pick of Milwaukee in 2010, Sanders battled anxiety and depression after he was released by the Bucks on Feb. 21, 2015.
Sanders talked to the Cavs before the February trade deadline, but the Cavs landed Andrew Bogut instead. But he fractured his left fibula 58 seconds into his Cavs debut March 6 against the Miami Heat.
Sanders does have some baggage. He was twice suspended for marijuana use in 2013-14. A Cavs official confirmed to Jason Lloyd, now with The Athletic, for Ohio.com two weeks ago that Sanders was arrested last year on a felony charge in Los Angeles. According to Los Angeles Sheriff's Department records, Sanders was arrested on June 12 and booked into the Van Nuys jail, with his bail set at $50,000. Lloyd reported the Cavs didn't believe Sanders would be disciplined by the league if he were signed.
But Sanders' age (28), size (6-foot-11) and skills fit what the Cavs need.
"An athletic big guy, incredible shot-blocking skills, anticipation around the rim, can finish around the rim and block shots and being able to guard perimeter guys as well," LeBron James said before Saturday's shootaround at Freedom High School in Orlando. "It looks like he wants another opportunity and hopefully we give him an opportunity. Why not? Everyone deserves a second chance. ... You don't know how much you can get out of a guy that's been out so long, but I'd love to see it."
It could be a promising start to what could be a big week for the Cavs. Three-point specialist Kyle Korver was to have his sore left foot re-evaluated and might see action after missing three consecutive games. James said Saturday night that Kevin Love was returning "very soon" after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Valentine's Day. Even having to fast-track to learn the system, Sanders should be able to help the defending champion Cavs improve their 22nd-ranked defensive efficiency.
A team ranked outside the top 10 in that category hasn't captured an NBA title since the 2000-01 Los Angeles Lakers, whose roster included Cavs coach Tyronn Lue.
Following Sunday night's 117-112 loss to the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center, James downplayed what could be in store this week. The Cavs play home games Tuesday against the Pistons and Thursday against the Jazz before leaving on their third three-city road trip of the month.
"Every week is important," James said. "You try to build and build and build and create habits going into the postseason. It's not one week that's bigger than another, not one game that's bigger than another. It's a long season. It's a process. We'll figure it out. We're a team that's capable of doing that. We've got a couple home games. We knew March was going to be tough when you look at the schedule in the beginning. At the end of the day, we'll figure it out."
Even though the Cavs are 2-5 in March, Lue was on the same page as the four-time league MVP.
"Just get back on the winning track. Get home. Play better," Lue said.
Seventeen games remain for the Cavs (41-24). Going into Monday's action, they had a two-game lead on Washington and Boston for the No. 1 seed in the East, although the Celtics were three back in the loss column.
Lue said he doesn't care about the No. 1 seed and he meant it.
"I'm not concerned. They've still got to catch us," he said. "We'll see. If you're going to be a championship team, you've got to win on the road, anyway. We'll see what happens."
Kyrie Irving seemed to have a good understanding of what needs to be done before the regular season ends.
"We understand we have a lot to learn about each other going forward, as well as our game plan and how we execute," Irving said. "This isn't a hard month. There's nothing too hard, especially in the game of basketball. It's just going out there and competing, making sure that we're all in tune. Once we all get on the same page we'll definitely look like a better basketball club.
"But as of right now, we just have a lot more to learn. That's what it really boils down to. This is not a perfect team right now and we understand that. The challenges right now that we face will kind of dictate where we are in the next two weeks, next three weeks going into April. I'm looking forward to it."
