The Milwaukee Bucks reportedly tried to trade Brandon Knight and Larry Sanders to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Roy Hibbert last summer, Racine Journal Times NBA writer Gery Woelfel reported on Monday.
Woelfel said a source inside the Bucks organization told him that Sanders and Knight were included in a package to acquire Hibbert, although the trade did not materialize.
"A Bucks official said the team had attempted to trade Sanders, along with Brandon Knight, to the Pacers last summer for Roy Hibbert," Woelfel tweeted on Monday.
While Knight emerged as one of the finest up-and-coming guards this season as he's averaging 15 points, 5.1 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game, Sanders has become a big problem for the Bucks top-brass.
The 26-year old Sanders hasn't lived up to his four-year, $44 million contract extension (7.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game), and now there are reports that he's planning to quit basketball and focus on other options.
"Some friends of Sanders told me last summer they were concerned Sanders wasn't committed to basketball and wanted to explore other options," Woelfel stated.
The Bucks' intention to trade Sanders shouldn't come as a surprise now given the situation. However, Woelfel said an NBA executive think it would be a tall task for Milwaukee to convince other teams in gambling on a player who seems to have lost his passing for the game.
"It's hardly a secret Bucks have been trying to trade Sanders. Asked If the Bucks could trade Sanders now, an NBA official said: "Good luck,'' according to Woelfel.
Meanwhile, Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders reported that Sanders has remained committed with the Bucks and is planning to re-join the team this week.
"Sanders disputes the notion that he told the Bucks that he no longer wanted to play basketball, Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders reports. According to Kyler, Sanders has been out with the flu and dealing was some personal issues, and is planning to rejoin the team sometime this week," via Hoops Rumors.
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