While We’re Waiting…NBA Jam, Drafting Clausen at 7, Cavs Playoff Projections, Tribe Bullpen
March 21, 2010Manny Acta Impressed With Travis Hafner
March 21, 2010Since he was traded from the Cavaliers on February 17, Zydrunas Ilgauskas has been spending time outside of Northeast Ohio and away from the city where he has lived for the past 14 years. Z traveled and reported briefly in Washington and then took off for New York shortly after it became apparent that a buyout would be reached and he would never suit up for the Wizards. Z has a second home/apartment in the tony Manhattan neighborhood of SoHo and had been spending downtime there with his wife and kids. You will remember this is where members of the Cavaliers, including LeBron and GM Danny Ferry, visited him when they were attempting to persuade him to re-sign with the Cavaliers. He has supposedly stayed away from NE Ohio since the trade. He recently returned to the Cleveland area and has been working out in preparation of signing a deal with the Cavaliers. He is eligible to begin negotiations on a new contract tomorrow and it is expected that he will re-join the Cavaliers sometime in the coming week.
Z’s agent, Herb Rudoy, communicated with PD reporter Brian Windhorst via email. Rudoy indicated that a deal will most likely be reached in short order:
“He is hopeful I can get a deal done quickly so he can sign and travel with the team…He is very excited to get back to his teammates.”
As Windhorst alluded to in his piece this morning, there are really only two choices when it comes to reaching an agreement. The Cavs can offer Z the veteran’s minimum contract which will last through the end of this season or they can use their bi-annual exception which would offer Z more money and provide an option for an additional year next season. The bi-annual exception is set at just under $2 million/year for 2009-2010. The Cavs would most likely be amenable to offering Z whichever option he would prefer with the understanding from Z that those options are limited.
As for conditioning, Rudoy stated that Z had been working out at a local gym with multiple trainers for close to 3 hours a day. It is unclear how long he has employed this workout regimen. Z will most likely join the team on their quick 2 game road trip to New Orleans and San Antonio this week and he could be dressed as soon as Wednesday against the Hornets.
It will be interesting to see how Mike Brown works Z into the rotation. Will Z immediately plug in at center and play with LBJ and Antawn in the frontcourt? This is a potential rotation move which would result in JJ Hickson getting bumped out of the starting lineup where Mike Brown has carved out consistent minutes for the promising sophomore. He may also chose to bring Z off the bench quickly in the 1Q replacing JJ. It is doubtful Coach Brown would move AP to the bench and put LeBron at the 2 and go with a large lineup of LBJ-Z-Tawn-JJ-Mo. Brown has been dedicated to keeping Parker in the starting lineup.
The decision for these final 10 or so games will likely be between Z and JJ with Z eventually getting the majority of minutes at center regardless of who starts. Oh, and Shaq is due back sometime in mid-April as well. The versatility of this roster is one of the most admirable qualities of this team – Coach Brown can go small, medium, or large at any time and have depth with each look. The versatility also prompts a ton of rotation questions for Coach Brown but that is its own series of ongoing posts.
Z has missed 16 games with the Cavaliers. Eleven of those games were also played without Shaq and no true center available or in the lineup. The Cavs have made a concerted effort to maintain their rebounding advantage in the absence of a true center, which has been aided by the stellar play of Andy Varejao, the addition of Jamison, and a soft schedule. They are actually rebounding well above their season average in those 11 games at 45.3 rpg (11 off. / 34.3 def). In terms of splits, March has also been their best month on the boards as well. They have averaged almost one less block a game in the 11 games without a true center but the rebounding effort is impressive even during an easy stretch of the schedule.
Z’s greatest value may prove to exist in the clichéd realm known as “intangibles.” LeBron was clearly upset at the thought of losing Z when the trade initially went down. It is well known that Z is beloved by his teammates and this fan base. It will be comforting to have a true center back on the roster but his presence should also provide an uplifting boost with 12 games to go until the postseason.
(Image courtesy of Fresh Brewed Tees where the t-shirt is still available for purchase in preparation for this week’s return)
11 Comments
Sooner the better indeed. I hope he is ready to play.
Another new player? I’m getting really sick of all these new guys! And “Zydrunas Ilgauskas”? How do you even pronounce that? It’s going to take forever to even learn his name! How are our TV and Radio guys going to pronounce that mess?
We have enough people on this team with odd names! Can’t we get a normal guy to play for us? “Mark Price”, now there’s a name I can get behind! This new guy is going to take forever to fit in with the team, doesn’t Ferry know it takes time for a team to gel before the playoffs what is he thinking?
Just kidding, love ya Z-man. Welcome back. We missed you.
queue up the puppets
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The sooner the better I wonder just how quickly a deal will be done. I’m sure the faster a deal is done the more the conspiracy theorists will be rearing their ugly heads. Regardless it’ll be nice seeing #11 back.
slightly off topic, but regarding KU’s loss last night, can we get a TD update? Is he ok? Is he wrapped in a blanket, staring blankly out the window sobbing, “Why God, why?”
Max – I see he has something queued up for tomorrow on the KU loss. I think he is doing ok, not great, as this is just another blow in a lifetime.
Z will start at C immediately and should def start at C for the next home game so the crowd can bring the house down.
I can’t wait to see Z start in his first home game back. Wish I could be there.
[…] but have been able to pull out Ws against the weaker competition. This may be their last game before Z’s return. They will have two days off before traveling to New Orleans on Wednesday for the first game of a […]
Is there a video of Z’s actual stepping on the court off the bench to play for the first time since his departure?????? I missed that part of the game! Thanks.