NBA Free Agency News 2013: Larry Sanders Signs 4 Year Extension With Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks made a change of guards this offseason, but they made sure that their main man in the middle will continue to patrol the paint in years to come.

Larry Sanders inked a four-year extension with the Bucks, the team announced on Wednesday. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that the defensive ace agreed to a four-year deal worth $44 million that could go as high as $48 million.

The 24-year-old center had a breakout year last season, averaging career-highs of 9.8 points and 9.5 rebounds to go along with 2.8 blocks per game. Sanders ranked second in the league in blocks last season and once had a stretch of 40 games with at least one block every game. 

"By combining his God-given ability with hard work and determination, Larry has developed into one of the top young defensive players in the league. He is a very important part of what we are doing in Milwaukee, and we're excited to announce his contract extension," said Bucks general manager John Hammond.

The 6-foot-11 former Virginia Commonwealth standout, who averaged 6.2 points and 5.5 rebounds in his first three years in the league, had a team-best 26 double-doubles last season, including one triple-double with 10 points, 12 rebounds and 10 blocks.

Sanders' 10-block performance lined him up with legendary star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the only players in Bucks history to block 10 times in one game.

Sanders' breakout year did not go unnoticed as he finished third in the voting for the 2012-13 season Most Improved Player award, while also getting an invitation to attend the 2013 USA Men's Basketball mini-camp in Las Vegas last month.

Sanders also confirmed the deal through his Instagram account by posting a photo captioned: "It's official..can't believe I've been granted this opportunity to represent Milwaukee for the next 5 years and hopefully the rest of my career. Words cannot explain my gratitude for the @bucks organization and the faith in me as a leader and a worker..I won't let you down Mil-town..see you in the BC!!! #letsgobucks #bucknation #buck4life."