Cleveland56
Situational Stopper
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- Apr 22, 2005
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from the ABJ:
LAS VEGAS - Zydrunas Ilgauskas will be back in Cavaliers uniform. The All-Star center and the team came to an agreement on a contract Monday. A league insider said it was worth between $55 and $60 million over the next five years.
Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry and Ilgauskas' agent, Herb Rudoy, worked through many issues to get the contract done in a process that took several weeks.
After being stagnant for a week, the talks heated up Sunday. It is believed the fifth year of the deal is not fully guaranteed, but Ilgauskas can make it guaranteed if he reaches certain games-played incentives.
``Zydrunas is very happy about it,'' Rudoy said Monday. ``He'd always wanted to remain with the Cavaliers.''
Combined with the signing of shooting guard Larry Hughes last week, the Cavaliers have secured multiple stars to surround LeBron James.
Ilgauskas' contract is expected to start around $9 million (that's less than $10 Ricky), Hughes around $12 million. That will still leave the Cavaliers about $6 million to spend in free agency.
Ilgauskas, who left Monday for a three-week trip to the Far East, averaged 16.9 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.2 blocks this past season when he made his second All-Star team.
His chronic foot problems always have been a concern, but he has been virtually injury-free since 2000.
Toward the end of the regular season, it didn't appear that Ilgauskas would be back. Team insiders said the hiring of Ferry, a close personal friend, as general manager and a strong endorsement from new coach Mike Brown that he could make Ilgauskas a better defender within his system turned the tide.
The team is now expected to target the point-guard market. It is believed that they are making a play for one of Ilgauskas' best friends, fellow Lithuanian Sarunas Jasikevicius.
Jasikevicius has turned down an offer from the Boston Celtics. He is also being courted by the Indiana Pacers. The Cavaliers also are interested in Antonio Daniels and Earl Watson, both unrestricted free agents.
Gooden not concerned
Cavaliers forward Drew Gooden is eligible for a contract extension starting next month. Coming off a career season in which he averaged 14.4 points and 9.2 rebounds, Gooden's value perhaps hasn't been higher.
In recent years, several players in his position have pressed for extensions before the Oct. 1 deadline, but he said he won't make an issue of it.
``I'm not worrying about any of that. I'll just play and let the contract stuff take care of itself,'' Gooden said. ``I just want to have another good season and make the playoffs.''
Gooden will be a restricted free agent after next season.
Natt to move?
A league official said Cavaliers assistant Kenny Natt is being courted to join the Dallas Mavericks staff. Natt, who is coaching the Cavaliers' summer-league team in Las Vegas, has two years left on the contract he signed when coming to Paul Silas' staff last season. He said he'll decide his future after summer league.
LAS VEGAS - Zydrunas Ilgauskas will be back in Cavaliers uniform. The All-Star center and the team came to an agreement on a contract Monday. A league insider said it was worth between $55 and $60 million over the next five years.
Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry and Ilgauskas' agent, Herb Rudoy, worked through many issues to get the contract done in a process that took several weeks.
After being stagnant for a week, the talks heated up Sunday. It is believed the fifth year of the deal is not fully guaranteed, but Ilgauskas can make it guaranteed if he reaches certain games-played incentives.
``Zydrunas is very happy about it,'' Rudoy said Monday. ``He'd always wanted to remain with the Cavaliers.''
Combined with the signing of shooting guard Larry Hughes last week, the Cavaliers have secured multiple stars to surround LeBron James.
Ilgauskas' contract is expected to start around $9 million (that's less than $10 Ricky), Hughes around $12 million. That will still leave the Cavaliers about $6 million to spend in free agency.
Ilgauskas, who left Monday for a three-week trip to the Far East, averaged 16.9 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.2 blocks this past season when he made his second All-Star team.
His chronic foot problems always have been a concern, but he has been virtually injury-free since 2000.
Toward the end of the regular season, it didn't appear that Ilgauskas would be back. Team insiders said the hiring of Ferry, a close personal friend, as general manager and a strong endorsement from new coach Mike Brown that he could make Ilgauskas a better defender within his system turned the tide.
The team is now expected to target the point-guard market. It is believed that they are making a play for one of Ilgauskas' best friends, fellow Lithuanian Sarunas Jasikevicius.
Jasikevicius has turned down an offer from the Boston Celtics. He is also being courted by the Indiana Pacers. The Cavaliers also are interested in Antonio Daniels and Earl Watson, both unrestricted free agents.
Gooden not concerned
Cavaliers forward Drew Gooden is eligible for a contract extension starting next month. Coming off a career season in which he averaged 14.4 points and 9.2 rebounds, Gooden's value perhaps hasn't been higher.
In recent years, several players in his position have pressed for extensions before the Oct. 1 deadline, but he said he won't make an issue of it.
``I'm not worrying about any of that. I'll just play and let the contract stuff take care of itself,'' Gooden said. ``I just want to have another good season and make the playoffs.''
Gooden will be a restricted free agent after next season.
Natt to move?
A league official said Cavaliers assistant Kenny Natt is being courted to join the Dallas Mavericks staff. Natt, who is coaching the Cavaliers' summer-league team in Las Vegas, has two years left on the contract he signed when coming to Paul Silas' staff last season. He said he'll decide his future after summer league.
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