Z is waiting

[Glen Infante]

Talks slow on Ilgauskas

Center and agent not in any hurry to reach deal

By Brian Windhorst

Beacon Journal sports writer


LAS VEGAS - Apparently, no progress is no concern.

After making a major splash by agreeing to terms with shooting guard Larry Hughes late Thursday, the Cavaliers have shifted their focus to getting a contract done with Zydrunas Ilgauskas. But things are moving slowly.

``There has been zero progress,'' Ilgauskas' agent, Herb Rudoy said on Saturday. ``But I'm not frustrated; that is part of the business.''

Rudoy had talks with Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry on Friday and Saturday but seems no closer to a deal.

The Cavaliers seem reasonably confident they can work out a new contract for their All-Star center and, considering Ilgauskas is not making any free-agent visits and is scheduled to leave the country for a three-week trip Monday, perhaps they're right.

Rudoy said he is still in discussions with other teams, and whether Ilgauskas is genuinely considering those offers might play a major role in the talks.

The Atlanta Hawks, who have more than $20 million in cap space, are recruiting Phoenix Suns guard Joe Johnson and hope to also land Ilgauskas in a package deal that will greatly improve their fortunes.

Rudoy is also in talks with teams about sign-and-trade deals. It is believed the Cavaliers might be open to this option as well, depending on whom they can get back in return. If they re-sign him, the Cavaliers would prefer to keep Ilgauskas' salary next year at less than $10 million.

If the salary cap comes in at $49 million, which most teams in the NBA are using as their base, the Cavaliers have about $16 million to spend. The Cavaliers are hoping to keep at least $6 million in reserve after signing Ilgauskas so they can seriously compete for a third free agent. Having more to offer than the mid-level exception, which is expected to be about $5.5 million, would give the Cavaliers an advantage.

Rudoy and Ilgauskas might go down that road, but will want additional years on the contract, perhaps as many as five or six total, to balance it.

Then there's the dicey issue of how the deal will be insured and who will take on the burden considering Ilgauskas' history of foot problems.

``It is going to take awhile for this thing to run its course,'' Rudoy said.

http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/sports/basketball/nba/cleveland_cavaliers/12099303.htm

 

[d3]

Im guessing we'll end up doing a sign and trade.

 

[TruBuckeye22]

Z and his agent have to be frustrated because it doesn't sound like other teams are making significant offers so they have very little to play the Cavaliers against. money wise the Hawks could get him but he would doom himself to life if NBA pergitory.

if it comes down to a sign and trade it will be tough to get equal value back because there are just so few true Centers anymore. so a sign and trade would most likely have to address other needs like a PG.

 

[E-Light]

The cavs won't do a sign and trade. The only real option at center is curry now, and with the cavs putting attitude first, it would seem curry is essentially crossed off the list leaving really only Z, and a bunch of vet minimum's as possible center candidates.

 

[Wine and Gold]

Doesn't it seem odd that a center that is touted by many to be the second, third fourth best center in all of basketball, has so few teams clamoring for his services ? Could it be he's not seen as being as valuable as many believe he is ? That's my view at least. He's 7'3 but plays small and weak inside. He has little interior presence. He's slow footed so he doesn't really have any value gauarding anyone in space, but he's got a good 15 ft shot, and gets alot of his own offensive rebounds. I'm hoping for a sign and trade, but really doubt that what we get back contract wise will be worthy. It's a tough call ..so little exists at the position in the NBA, but is he worthy of a large contract ? I go both ways, but hope we either can get a rounded player at the position like Magloire, or get Z really cheap and on our terms. Maybe 9 mil over three years ...tops. Anything beyond three years is a slary strapped to us beyond it's worth to us. If Z is better than most centers in the league, than ...the obvious assumption I make is that alot of teams get by without one pretty good. Maybe the position is overpriced and overvalued ...even though so few true centers exist..

 

[NarlCavs]

A lot of teams would like Z. There just aren't any who have the available cap space to sign him. With the Cavs not having tons of interest in working out a sign and trade, that also closes the door on options for Z.
The Hawks, Hornets, and maybe the Clippers are really the only teams left who have cap room to sign Z to the kind of contract he's looking for.
The Cavs have no other good realistic options at C. Curry and Dalembert are restricted which writes them off.

Z will be back. There's no better options out there for him. I think the only holdup now is length of contract. The Cavs will probably have to go 5 years to get the 1st year salary to about $9 million to allow them to make other FA moves. His contract will average about $10 million a season.

 

[King]

^Werd. If teams like Memphis, Boston, LAL, and Minnesota had cap space im sure they'd be dishing out big money to him. We were just lucky that the offseason that Z is a free agent is one where the teams that have enough space to sign him are in the rebuilding process.

 

[Karma]

The contract amount and years are not really important. What is important is the amount his first year amount. This is what can mean what free agents we can and cannot chase. If Ilgauskas gets a deal where he is on 13 million in five years time, it wont matter because we will be so far over the cap it is all irrelevant.

 

[Coyote]

We ARE lucky in regards to Z and the timing of his free agency, just like we were lucky to be in the hunt for a big time 2 guard when 4, maybe 5, top-caliber ones were on the market. It's not lucky for Z, but I think given the addition of Hughes, the possibility of that Sarunas guy plus the already-signed young center, Z will stay for $9 million the first year and more each year. I honestly think we'll ship him in 3 years if he doesn't retire first.

 

[KI4MVP]

atlanta, charlotte, and the clippers - that's the whole list of teams who can offer more than the MLE to sign Z away from us.

 

[cdt]

New Orleans wants him and they have been shopping Magloire pretty hard. Imagine Magloire on the Cavaliers I love that thought. They have said they won't get equal value for Z and we aren't looking for equal value with Magloire. He makes 6 million per and Z will get 8-10 so they are only spending a few mill more, maybe we could include Sasha if they want but getting a young Magloire who beat Z for an all star spot who hasnt entered his prime is a very very intruiging proposition.

 

[KI4MVP]

why would we have to give extra stuff to trade our all star center for Magloire?

I want Z and Jasekevicius (I know I misspelled that).

 

[cdt]

Well I think they would do Magloire for Z he isn't happy there and they want Z, I was factoring his age and the extra millions he makes but I want Magloire for Z that'd be perfect.

 

[PIP]

i wish z would just sign a damn contract already-- if the guy wants to be here ? how about he quits jerking around, and just sign a deal..

he doesn't want to be a member of the hawks,hornets, or clippers-- if he wants to be a knick, then sign a offer sheet for their MLE-- but if he wants to be here- quit messing around..

the guy acts like he has all these options..

 

[NarlCavs]

I don't think New Orleans has any interest in Z. They're rebuilding there and don't want to add any big contracts, especially one belonging to a 30 year old C.
I also don't see anyway Z will want to end his career on a bad rebuilding team like Atlanta or New Orleans.

The Cavs are in the driver's seat with Z. His agent can talk all he wants. He knows there are limited options to choose from.