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Windhorst talked to Z about his hopes and plans to stay with the Cavs next season and, possibly, beyond.
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Cavaliers Insider: Zydrunas Ilgauskas looks at future with team
by Brian Windhorst/Plain Dealer Reporter
Friday April 10, 2009, 8:19 PM
PHILADELPHIA -- By this time in the season with six months of pounding in the rear view, Zydrunas Ilgauskas is feeling his age.
He's about two months away from his 34th birthday, which is retirement time for many players. Not for Ilgauskas, though. On Friday, he said he's pretty much come to terms with two decisions he's going to be facing soon enough about his future.
First, he is sticking to his preseason plan not to opt out of his contract at the end of this season. Second, he said he wants to remain a Cav past next season.
"I want to stay here so I don't see a good reason to opt out," Ilgauskas said. "But I am confident I can play beyond this contract and continue to be a contributor for a few more years."
Scheduled to make $11.5 million next season, it makes sense not to use his early termination option. However, with his intention to play more than one more year, some players and agents would look at the chance differently. If Ilgauskas opted out, he could sign a new contract that perhaps would pay him less next season but give him a couple of more years with good security and more guaranteed money.
He took this route in 2005 when he agreed to take a pay cut on the front end of his current contract while being rewarded on the back end.
"I'm not sure about doing an extension, maybe it is something we'll talk about after the season," Ilgauskas said. "It hard to guess because you never know when your legs are going to go out. But I'm feeling good."
The Cavs could benefit from a restructuring of Ilgauskas contract to get under the luxury tax next season. However, they also are looking to maintain as much cap space as possible for 2010 when his contract would expire.
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