Z not retiring next season?

[buzzdog]

I love Z and I'd love to have him somewhere on the bench for another year or two.

But this isn't just about Z. It's about the $12 million worth of NBA basketball talent that his contract represents. Expiring contracts that size just don't come around every year. Being over the cap how do we replenish the talent level on the team unless we utilize Z's contract?

I mean I'd even trade Shaq's contract if that meant getting someone like Bosch on board somehow. Generally speaking Shaq's contract is almost too big but Z's is just the right size to make a move to help the roster for the next several seasons.

How can Ferry justify just letting this opportunity pass? And if he does how do we upgrade the talent on the team being against the salary cap?

Those are the questions I'd like to see an answer for.

 

[buzzdog]

Yeah, I know it's a buzzkill to think about. And a threadkilla.

 

[Gunther]

Similar article from the ABJ's George Thomas with slightly different quotes.

Ilgauskas looking forward to another year
By George Thomas
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 09:56 p.m. EST, Jan 13, 2010

SALT LAKE CITY: Zydrunas Ilgauskas is invigorated.

He is no longer talking of retiring. A 13-year veteran, Ilgauskas said he feels better than he usually does at this point in the season and plans to play another year.

He's quick to point out that he never said he would retire, just that the thought had crossed his mind.

He has been the subject of trade rumors because he has an expiring contract that teams covet and his role has changed significantly, but he feels good.

''I said there's a chance,'' Ilgauskas said. ''When you reach a certain age, there's a [role] injuries and everything else might play. Now I'm healthy, so I'm having fun.''

Reaching that level of comfort didn't come easily. With less playing time — he averages about six fewer minutes per game this season since the arrival of Shaquille O'Neal — there were adjustments.

''It was tough at first because I couldn't find my rhythm,'' he said. ''Shaq was out [with an injury] and I went into the starting lineup and then I went back to the bench. It has taken me awhile, but I'm feeling better now.''

Less playing time offers him another advantage.

''The minutes are not as massive as they used to be and I'm not as beat up,'' Ilgauskas said. ''Usually at this time of the season, you start to feel the toll. I feel better than last year at this point and that helps.''

That could probably be said for O'Neal, too.

O'Neal, a 7-foot-1, 17-year veteran whose minutes are down by almost eight per game, said that joining the Cavs and working with Ilgauskas is advantageous for everyone.

Coach Mike Brown agreed.

''The great thing about Shaq being here is that nobody prepares for Z in the low post,'' Brown said. ''There have been games that we've thrown him down there two or three times and a lot of it is because they can't game plan for everybody and everything.''

The contrast in play between the two big men is stark.

''I think we work well together,'' Ilgauskas said. ''We complement each other really well, so teams have to deal with different stuff as far as guarding the inside-outside game.

''I just think it took a while for us to get used to playing with Shaq, but now you can see it's paying dividends.''

SOURCE