Z not retiring next season?

[GilbertForPres]

christomasson Zydrunas Ilgauskas tells FanHouse he won't retire after this season and wants to re-sign with Cleveland. At: http://bit.ly/7mFs42

DENVER -- Big Z will be back.

Cleveland center Zydrunas Ilgauskas told FanHouse in October and later told other media outlets he was considering retiring after this season. But Ilgauskas told FanHouse on Friday he will return next season and wants to re-sign with Cleveland.

"I'm going to play next year,'' Ilgauskas, 34, said after Cleveland's morning shootaround in preparation for a game against Denver. "I realize I've got a lot of good basketball left in me.''

In the preseason, Ilgauskas was unsure how his health would be. He's battled foot injuries his entire career, and regularly has to soak in ice for long stretches. But Ilgauskas said he's felt good this season.

"I feel like I'm having fun,'' he said. "I'm healthy. So why not (play next season)? I'll get to do nothing the rest of my life.''

Ilgauskas will be a free agent this summer and says he wants to re-sign with Cleveland.

"Of course,'' said Ilgauskas, who has spent his entire career with the team since being drafted in 1996. "We'll wait until summer (to talk about a new contract).''

The news of Ilgauskas definitely coming back was welcomed by Anderson Varejao, a Cleveland forward and his best friend on the team.

"I thought maybe he would,'' Varejao said of preseason talk about Ilgauskas possibly retiring. "But inside I knew that he probably wouldn't. He can still play. ... He's feeling good. He's had no injuries (this season). There's no reason for him to retire.''

Ilgauskas has played in all but one of Cleveland's 36 games. He's averaging 7.8 points and 5.6 rebounds as the backup behind Shaquille O'Neal.

From NBA Fanshouse and Chris Tomasson twitter. http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/01/08/big-z-no-longer-thinking-of-retirement/

 

[Chardon]

Lets see if he pulls a Josh Cribbs.

 

[Otsego Mar]

PIP just died a little inside.

 

[Triumph36]

This is good to hear, hopefully he's realistic with his contract demands though.

 

[WUJU]

Believe in Zesus! He will save you

 

[Otsego Mar]

Well as long as he doesn't expect to be the starter (or at the least get starters minutes) I think I'd be happy to have him back. It would be even better if we find a future Center for next year or if Shaq comes back with Z.

 

[Wulfgar1224]

Well as long as he doesn't expect to be the starter (or at the least get starters minutes) I think I'd be happy to have him back. It would be even better if we find a future Center for next year or if Shaq comes back with Z.

Honestly, I don't want him back. He's done. After this season, I'd just move forward. You are right though. We do need future big men at the 4 since JJ doesn't seem to be the answer and also at center. Although, Andy may be able to fill the center need on a part time basis.

 

[Mdog1]

I hope his loyalty out weighs his ego (although small). He may want a larger contract then we can afford to give him. Unless he has a talk with DF and DG and decide that he could potentially be used in a trade next season as well. Then I have no problem with giving him a 1 year 10 million dollar contract or however much it would need to be. The only problem with that is that if we do trade him this year we will lose his Bird rights, and then he would most likely have to be signed for the MLE or BAE. Either way I love Z and am glad that he wants to continue his career with us.

 

[macbdog]

You have to wonder though, if LeBron goes elsewhere would Z still want to return?

 

[PIP]

 

[ajz20]

Lets see how he feels in June after a really long year. i tend to believe if we win it all this year that he may re-think his position. He is playing much better as of late, but I would hate to see what he looks like once father time catches up to him 100 percent. I love Z for what he has done, i am just not sure he fits into our future after this season! He will be one year older, a step slower, and may start to become more injury prone. I wonder if he would ever go into coaching after he hangs it up? Id hope if he did come back, it would be his final year for sure. My preference would be that we move on and thank him for his time here.

 

[Otsego Mar]

You have to wonder though, if LeBron goes elsewhere would Z still want to return?

Probably.

 

[Lee]

Seriously? Z is one of the best if not the best backup center in the league. If he returns, I am sure he knows that is his role and expects to be paid as such. Z has never shown himself to be money hungry, and I wouldnt expect him to be so this time around. We can use our birds rights, so a front loaded contract would be perfect as we wont have any cap space this year, but 2011 we might have some. Truth be known, cap space is so overated. Good teams dont get top level free agents, they use the draft wisely, make good trades, and use free agency to find filler pieces.

This all goes away though if we sign Z and resign him to league min. SO it will be seen if he wants to come here for vet min next year if we trade him. This might be Z's way of getting Ferry to think twice about trading him, as it could screw up our roster next year and our ability to use the bird's rights on z.

 

[MoFlo]

You have to wonder though, if LeBron goes elsewhere would Z still want to return?

Even though Z's seen the most success he's had since LeBron arrived, his loyalty is to the Cavaliers' franchise, not LeBron James.

 

[The Oi]

You have to wonder though, if LeBron goes elsewhere would Z still want to return?

Or maybe Z already knows something we don't.