Cavaliers news, features and notes
- Jason Lloyd: Lottery victory brings Cavs plenty of options through trades and draft
- Cleveland Cavaliers win draft lottery, will pick No. 1 again
- Cavs win draft lottery, will pick No. 1 in NBA Draft
- NBA Draft lottery: Cavs’ third-best odds have history of turning into top selection
- 2103 NBA Scouting Combine: GlenOak graduate C.J. McCollum hopes to be a lottery pick
- 2013 NBA Scouting Combine: Cleveland Cavaliers focus on drafting good players, not overall strength of draft
- 2013 NBA Scouting Combine: Otto Porter seems like perfect fit for Cleveland Cavaliers but no meeting on agenda
- 2013 NBA Scouting Combine notebook: Nerlens Noel won’t play until late December but still interests Cavaliers
- Projected top pick Nerlens Noel won't be ready for start of season, targeting Christmas
- Former Ohio State star Deshaun Thomas refuses to give NBA team his phone number at combine
Z no slam dunk to return
It has been widely speculated that Zydrunas Ilgauskas will return to the Cleveland Cavaliers when and if his contract is bought out by the Washington Wizards.
Well, if he is still a Wizard. Trade deadline rumblings have Z's name being tossed around with a few trade options again (as of 3:15 nothing had happened).
Anyways, a decision to return has little to do with the Cavaliers. It is now out of their hands.
First, the Wizards have to buyout his $11.5 million contract, which would make him available. Because of a kicker in his contract Ilgauskas earned a rumored $600,000 extra for being traded.
Once he is available, he would be free to sign with any team in the league with the exception of the Cavaliers, who must wait 30 days before they can attempt to resign him.
A buyout must take place before march 1 in order for him to be eligible for the playoffs.
It is hard to imagine Z in any uniform other than the Cavaliers. Its all he knows, but it is up for debate on how he is feeling following the trade.
Does he feel used?
Does he feel like he could have a better opportunity to win a title elsewhere?
Can another team offer more money?
``He’s moving ahead,’’ Ilgauskas’ agent Herb Rudoy said in a phone interview Wednesday. ``He’s disappointed, but he knows it’s a business... He’s heard from several very good NBA teams who want to sign him (should he become available).’’
It looks like everyone will have to wait and see.
"The Cavs took a risk by trading him and hoping he comes back because they have to get through the Lakers to win a championship," Ilgauskas' agent Herb Rudoy said.