Z Close to Returning to the Cavaliers

INDEPENDENCE – The agent for former Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas expects to have a deal with the Cavaliers by the end of they day. Herb Rudoy, Ilgauskas’ agent, said that he expects things to go very smoothly and just had to iron out a couple of minor things with Cavs general manager Danny Ferry. The Cavs have two contract options for signing the team’s all-time leading rebounder – the veterans minimum worth about $1.3 million and the bi-annual exception worth $1.99 million.  Ilgauskas is expected to sign for the latter at a pro-rated amount for the rest of the season. He could have easily asked for a multi-year deal that would cover next season.  After murmuring about potential retirement near the beginning of the season, Ilgauskas reversed course and stated that he would welcome the chance to come back for at least one more season, but decided against asking for that with this deal. ‘’He wants to see what happens this year,’’ Rudoy said. Ilgauskas’ return complicates the Cavs roster situation, leaving them to ponder who to get release to reach the league maximum of 15 team members. Ilgauskas left the Cavs in the three-team trade that brought Antawn Jamison and Sebastian Telfair to the Cavs near the trade deadline last month.