Larry Sanders is expected to be waived by the Cavaliers ahead of the playoffs. (AP)

The Cleveland Cavaliers are planning to waive Larry Sanders and sign center Edy Tavares from the NBA Development League, league sources told The Vertical.

Sanders had no issues in his stay with the Cavaliers and the sides mutually worked out his release as the team had no plans to place him in the playing rotation, league sources told The Vertical. Sanders completed his NBA return on March 11, when he signed a two-year deal with the Cavaliers.

Sanders recorded four points, four rebounds and one block in 13 minutes of action over four games with the Cavaliers. In four games for the Cavaliers’ D-League affiliate in Canton, Sanders averaged four points, eight rebounds and 2.5 blocks.

Tavares, a 7-foot-3 center, plans to sign a three-year contract with the Cavaliers on Wednesday, league sources said. Tavares has been a critical part of the Raptors’ 905’s championship contender in the D-League, averaging 10.9 points and 7.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks for the season.



After opening a roster spot by waiving DeAndre Liggins, the Cavaliers scanned their available options before finalizing terms with Tavares on Tuesday. Cleveland has been without Tristan Thompson for the past four games due to a right thumb injury and plans to rest LeBron James and Kyrie Irving in Wednesday’s finale against the Toronto Raptors.

The Cavaliers are 51-30 and could lose the top seed in the Eastern Conference to the Boston Celtics.

Tavares was the No. 43 overall pick to the Atlanta Hawks in the 2014 NBA draft. He played 12 NBA games from 2015-16 and was released by the Hawks on Oct. 31.