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Z's return Countdown (Officially back on the roster)

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Big Z being interviewed right now...

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Today is one of those very memorable days in Cavs history ...because it pretty much secures Z remaining a Cavaliers for the span of his career. He will be the next Cavalier to have his jersey, name and number risen up in the rafters at Quicken Loans Arena with all the other great Cavaliers.

The next, of course, will be the one of, if not arguably the best play by play man in history, one Joe Tait.

To have Z up there will be a great night, and one that we will all cherish. But, the night that Joe Tait goes up there with a big "microphone" will be the most special for me. Virtually every great moment in Cavs history has been played out in our minds thrugh the words of Joe Tait.

He's the reason I , and many of us are fans of this team. That can't be denied.

But, this next home game will be memorable for what the fans give to Z when he walks on the court. It's very very rare that a player in any sport plays for one team his entire career. Especially one as long and as successful as Z's. And this goes without even mentining all that he's gone through just to be able to continue to suit up and play.

It goes without saying that very few would have gone threough what he's gone through to continue to play given all the pain he's had to endure, and will continue to endure for the rest of his life.

As much as the fans will show how much he's been appreciated over the years this next home game ... I don't think it's possible to truly undrstand and comprehend what he's had to go through to get this far along in his career. No Cav will appreciate what it takes to ultiately win a championship more than Z when that time comes.
 
Even this man agrees...

joe-biden.jpg


...that Z coming back is a big fucking deal.
 
Wine and Gold said:
The next, of course, will be the one of, if not arguably the best play by play man in history, one Joe Tait.





As much as the fans will show how much he's been appreciated over the years this next home game ... I don't think it's possible to truly undrstand and comprehend what he's had to go through to get this far along in his career. No Cav will appreciate what it takes to ultiately win a championship more than Z when that time comes.
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Couldn't agree more on Tait , W&G. He's the best play by play guy to ever call a game and when he's gone, he'll be impossible to replace. When i'm in other towns checking out games via radio, it really helps you realize what a special gift we've had as Cavalier fans getting to hear Mr. Tait call a game.

Onto Z, i think you're right. Z's been through many battles with just trying to stay healthy, so if anyone should be appreciative, it would appear to be Z. While i'm not his biggest fan, i can appreciate the man has played well for us in his career and deserves to end it with us if he so chooses.
 
All reports have Z signing for the pro rated portion of the BAE and not the veteran minimum. If I understand correctly that means the BAE is no longer available for the Cavs to use this coming season.

Anyway, welcome back Big Z. He will be needed for a championship run and it's great to have him back where he belongs. One of the all time class acts in Cleveland sports history.
 
NarlCavs said:
All reports have Z signing for the pro rated portion of the BAE and not the veteran minimum. If I understand correctly that means the BAE is no longer available for the Cavs to use this coming season.

Anyway, welcome back Big Z. He will be needed for a championship run and it's great to have him back where he belongs. One of the all time class acts in Cleveland sports history.
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Other way around Narl, he signed for the vet min

edit: Nevermind, Windy updated it and said it was for the bae. I stand corrected.
 
http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2010/03/ilgauskas_to_sign_1-year_deal.html

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Zydrunas Ilgauskas, the Cavaliers' beloved center, has finalized a one-year deal worth about $1 million to return to the team. He will be in uniform and available for Wednesday's game in New Orleans.

"I just felt like I had some unfinished business here for this season," Ilgauskas told the media this afternoon. "I felt like I left a lot of good friends, friends that felt like a part of my family. I left a lot of good people behind. It just didn't feel right to go somewhere else.''

Also, Cavs used their bi-annual exception to sign Ilguaskas for the rest of this year, meaning he likely will recoup the $1.5 million he lost in the buyout from Washington. Initial reports indicated that he had signed a one-year deal at the pro-rated 10-year veteran's minimum, which would have paid him only about $150,000 for the rest of this season.

"The entire Cleveland Cavaliers organization from our hard-working part-time game day people to our front office, to the coaching staff, players, ownership and everyone else are thrilled that Zydrunas is coming back home to help us with our upcoming playoffs mission and hopefully, beyond," Cavs owner Dan Gilbert said in a team release. "Things didn't seem quite right around here without the big guy. If there ever was a benchmark to measure what the franchise aspires all of its team members to be, whether they play on the court or off the court, that benchmark would be Zydrunas Ilgauskas. That's why having "Z" back means so much to the Cavs, the city of Cleveland and the entire state of Ohio."

"Having the opportunity to bring Zydrunas back to the Cavaliers is very special for the franchise and our fans," General Manager Danny Ferry said in the release. "We're happy and we feel fortunate that Z wants to be here. We're also very happy for his wife Jennifer and his children too, and we're excited to see him back on the court with his teammates tomorrow."

Ilgauskas, the team's all-time leader in games played, rebounds and blocked shots was traded to Washington on Feb. 17 in a deal that brought Antawn Jamison and Sebastian Telfair to the Cavs. He was bought out by the Wizards and became a free agent. Monday was the first day the Cavs could offer him a contract.

The Cavs used a pro-rated portion of their bi-annual exception to get the deal done. Combined with the trade bonus he got for being sent to Washington, the deal makes up for the $1.5 million Ilgauskas gave up to become a free agent in a buyout deal.

Ilgauskas was courted by teams like Dallas and Denver, but instructed his agent, Herb Rudoy, to announce his intentions to return to the Cavs, in part because of the outpouring of support he received from fans upon his departure.

Ilgauskas was averaging 7.5 points and 5.3 rebounds in 53 games with the Cavs this season.

To clear a roster spot for Ilgauskas, the Cavs released Darnell Jackson. The second-year forward averaged 0.8 points on .320 shooting and 0.7 rebounds in 4.3 minutes per game in 27 games this season. The Cavaliers roster now stands at 15 players.

"Darnell was a good, hard-working teammate for us. We thank him and wish him the best going forward," said Ferry.
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After the kind words from Dan Gilbert and Danny Ferry, "Z" was spotted handing these gifts to members of the front office and ownership as a token of his appreciation.

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:yay::woot: For Z's return

:uhh: What Telfair will be doing next time he see's Darnell if we win a championship.
 
Any word on if there's a player/team option since he took the BAE?
 
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