honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, March 22, 2010

NBA: Ilgauskas close to re-signing with Cavaliers


Associated Press

CLEVELAND — The agent for center Zydrunas Ilgauskas believes a deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers will be struck by the end of the day.

“It’ll be resolved for sure,” agent Herb Rudoy said. “I’m hopeful by this evening it will be done. We’re not very far apart. The plan is to try and get him on the plane tomorrow.”
Cleveland departs Tuesday for a two-game road trip to New Orleans and San Antonio.
Rudoy is seeking a contract for just the remainder of this season. Ilgauskas has hinted at retirement, but Rudoy believes he will play next season.
Rudoy was pleased at the amount of interest around the league when Ilgauskas’ contract was bought out by Washington and wants ’Z’ to be an unrestricted free agent after the season.
“I saw the kind of interest there was around the league from so many teams. I don’t think he has any intention of retiring at all,” Rudoy said. “He just wants to play out this year and see what happens. Let’s get this over with and adjust next year after they win a championship. That’s his take.”
Cleveland dealt Ilgauskas to Washington at the trade deadline in a three-team deal that brought Antawn Jamison and Sebastian Telfair to the Cavaliers. Monday is the first day he is eligible to re-sign with the Cavaliers under league rules.
Ilgauskas spent his entire career in Cleveland before the trade, although he never appeared in a game for the Wizards. He is averaging 7.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game this year and is the franchise’s career leader in games played, blocks and rebounds. He’s second in scoring behind LeBron James and one of the most popular players in team history.
He has been in Cleveland for at least the past week working out at a suburban gym and staying in shape until he was eligible to rejoin the Cavaliers.
His return means Cleveland acquired Jamison, a two-time All-Star with nearly 17,000 career points, for a 2010 first-round pick and the rights to Emir Preldzic, a second-round pick last year.