The Milwaukee Bucks returned from the All-Star break and held a late practice at the Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin Training Center, but they were still without one notable face – center Larry Sanders. 

But, despite a flurry of Twitter reports from earlier in the day – which I tried to combat with this ...

So while the #Bucks and Sanders appear headed to a parting of ways, I’m being told everyone should slow their roll a bit on the details ... — Jim Owczarski (@JimOwczarski) February 18, 2015

Sanders is still a Milwaukee Buck.

He was eligible to return last Wednesday from a 12-game suspension for violating the NBA substance abuse policy, but missed the game, officially, for "personal reasons."

"He’s a part of the family, so you’re going to do everything," Bucks head coach Jason Kidd said Wednesday night. "The management, ownership, has done everything from A to Z to make someone comfortable. But, there’s other issues that are taking place in this that they can’t control. We’re just gonna wait and see."

Despite the numerous tweets hinting at Sanders' motivation, or issues, he has not spoken publicly since January.

"Until … if he comes in, we’re here to help, right? But he hasn’t been around," said Kidd, who added he hasn't talked to Sanders. "We wish the best for him so he does get healthy, so he has a chance to play because he has a talent on the basketball court and off. But when you’re fighting other issues, those become more important than the game of basketball." 

But, when asked about Jorge Gutierrez and his status with the club – the backup guard had been signed to two, 10-day contracts and the Bucks would need to sign him for the remainder of the year to bring him back – Kidd said, "We gotta wait right now because all our roster spots are full. So, at some point here, hopefully, in the next couple days we’ll be able to talk to him or someone else."

With the trade deadline looming, and Sanders' situation in flux, Kidd said none of this peripheral activity would affect his team, which had won 9 of 11 coming into the All-Star break. 

"You look at the Bucks family that we’ve created here, it’s about what these guys have done on the court," Kidd said. "It always will be about the guys on the court and this is a special group. Everybody’s talking about the trade deadline and making moves but sometimes it’s alright not to make a move. Or it’s all right to add a piece. But the chemistry, there’s nothing that can be broken with the chemistry here."