Z playing for Lithuania?

[The Voice]

Olympic Hopes Fading
Zydrunas Ilgauskas | Cavaliers
If the Beijing Summer Olympics started today, Zydrunas Ilgauskas' would not be playing for the Lithuanian Olympic team.
"No decision has been made yet," Herb Rudoy, Ilgauskas' Chicago-based agent said. "The Lithuanian Federation is still trying hard to provide the NBA with the required insurance coverage."

Unless the insurance issue is settled, a Cavs source said Ilgauskas would not participate in Olympics. -- The News-Herald

Well I certainly hope he doesn't play for Lithuania in the olympics. He's been injured throughout his career, he's finally healthy (other then his back issue) and there's no reason to risk the rest of his career. He needs to stay strong for the season.

 

[Spectre]

It's easy to be selfish about this issue because there's probably no way the team wants to see Z go out there and break down, especially with the issues he's had this season. However, I'm sure there's a great deal of pride for Z in being good enough to represent his country in the Olympics and I wouldn't want to take that away from him.

Let's just hope that if the insurance does end up going through that Z plays well and comes back healthy and safe.

 

[samtheman67]

Call me crazy but didnt lituanians HATE z for the longest time for some reason how the heck do they want him on their team now

 

[Cavs1]

If Z wants to play he should play...his career is coming to an end pretty shortly and he may not get this opportunity again. People need to stop playing the injury prone card - he hasn't been hurt in a while except for what some minor back problems recently.

If he plays I'll have no problem with it and I wish him the best of luck.

 

[cdt]

If he gets hurt the Lithuanians should pay the remaining salary he has left from the Cavs...and then pay it again as a penalty.

 

[deejay-8]

Before i seen the pools for the Games i would have said let him play because if we don't he will likely be unhappy with cavs management which could be bad for his play

but then i seen that Lithuania is in the same pool as Australia and i don't want the competition.

 

[fearthehawk47]

I personally couldn't see us letting him, we can't take the chance of that much more wear and tear on Z's body. Look what happened to LeBron, he came out of the gate and looked somewhat wore down from playing all of the games that he did last year. I just don't want to wake up one day, go online, and see that Z needs another type of foot surgery to put his NBA career in jeopardy.

 

[Jon]

Z's foot doesn't seem to be an issue... it's his back which can use all the rest it can get; but regardless if they can find a way to work out the insurance - it's Z's call.

If LeBron got hurt playing for team USA it could wreck our entire season, but then again he could get hand torn up by a vicious garage door window at his house. I hear that sort of thing happens to NBA players.

So while I'd rather not see them get hurt regardless of what they're up to this summer ... if they want to play for their countries, I support them.

 

[KCOTT]

let him play, if i was a professional athlete in another country and they wouldn't let me play for the U.S. in an international setting, i would be pissed and leave the team

 

[fearthehawk47]

If LeBron got hurt playing for team USA it could wreck our entire season, but then again he could get hand torn up by a vicious garage door window at his house. I hear that sort of thing happens to NBA players.

So while I'd rather not see them get hurt regardless of what they're up to this summer ... if they want to play for their countries, I support them.

It's the idea that they are far more likely to get hurt while playing basketball than they are doing normal, everyday activities. LeBron and Z are also 2 very different people. LeBron, at this stage in his career, doesn't have any major injuries yet and there's no real reason to feel the need to preserve him. Z's much older and has a history of injuries in the past; also nagging injuries like his back could become even worse to someone who's 7'3" playing that many games. It's obviously not in our best interest for him to play, I wouldn't be 100% against him playing because he should do what's best for him, but thinking as a fan of the Cavs, I want him doing as little as possible that could get him hurt for the upcoming season. I want a completely refreshed and re-energized Z as we are about to make an NBA Finals run.

 

[The Voice]

Z's foot doesn't seem to be an issue... it's his back which can use all the rest it can get; but regardless if they can find a way to work out the insurance - it's Z's call.

If LeBron got hurt playing for team USA it could wreck our entire season, but then again he could get hand torn up by a vicious garage door window at his house. I hear that sort of thing happens to NBA players.

So while I'd rather not see them get hurt regardless of what they're up to this summer ... if they want to play for their countries, I support them.

If LeBron got injured, we'd probably get the first draft pick. If Z gets injured, we still make the playoffs. We just lose and don't make the ship. Then we could add his Pippen.

Representatives from the Lithuanian national team and the Cavs are still in talks, but Zydrunas Ilgauskas continues to be denied permission to play in the Olympics because of insurance issues

 

[Smooth]

It's the idea that they are far more likely to get hurt while playing basketball than they are doing normal, everyday activities. LeBron and Z are also 2 very different people. LeBron, at this stage in his career, doesn't have any major injuries yet and there's no real reason to feel the need to preserve him. Z's much older and has a history of injuries in the past; also nagging injuries like his back could become even worse to someone who's 7'3" playing that many games.

They're two different players and are at different points in their career, but bottom line is that fatigue affects any player no matter who they are or where they are at in their career...

I'd like to see LeBron and Z refreshed this season instead of worn out because of international play... The main goals should be winning NBA championships with the Cleveland Cavaliers, not winning a gold medal... The gold medal comes after the rings, not before.

 

[Karma]

The gold medal comes after the rings, not before.

Maybe not when you are 33 and this is your final chance at Olympic glory.

 

[RchfldCavRaised]

Maybe not when you are 33 and this is your final chance at Olympic glory.

As selfish as I want to be, I think Z has earned the right to represent his country for 1 summer.

All that he has been through over the past year and a half... and he has still laid it all out for us. I want to our investment to be insured, no doubt, but on a personal level, we as an organization should have the class to permit this as long as his bases are covered financially.

Z has shown nothing but loyalty and an unwavering commitment to overcome setbacks... something Brad Daugherty wasnt even able/didnt have the desire to do for us when push came to shove. (according to Nance)

 

[Maximus]

Insurance is no longer a problem, it is his call. I think he will go.