Zydrunas Ilgauskas has decided to return to the Cavaliers

by Jeff at the BBC on Mar 4, 2010 6:47 PM CST in Roster Moves

Via the Twitter account of Brian Windhorst, the news has broken. Z will return to the Cavs.

However, he will not enter into contract negotiations until March 22nd, just before he is permitted by NBA rules to play for Cleveland again.

This is just speculation, but Ilgauskas had mentioned that he was wary of forcing the Cavs to cut a player to make room for his return, so perhaps his contract talks being postponed are his way of allowing either Danny Green or Darnell Jackson a little more time with their team before they have to leave and create a roster spot.

Z's agent has officially stated that the fans' support was key in his decision.

Welcome home, Z!

Tweet Comment 33 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Great news. Why won’t Telfair be the guy who is cut?

by JulioBernazard on Mar 4, 2010 6:52 PM CST reply actions

Telffair has a player option next year for 2.7 million, so i imagine the cavs would keep him. plus he is a capable backup point guard next year. unfortunately, darnell jackson becomes expendable. he wouldnt see any court time with Z coming back and Powe being healthy anyway.

by rockybrown on Mar 4, 2010 7:34 PM CST up reply actions

plus he is a capable backup point guard next year.

Telfair? Eh, not so much. Boobie AND Delonte are much, much better. He’d have to play behind all of them. We’re talking 4th string point guard, and not a good one at that.

by Simmsinns on Mar 5, 2010 2:21 PM CST up reply actions

We have too many bigs, not so many point guards.

by CavsLebronFan on Mar 5, 2010 6:50 AM CST up reply actions

sad to see a guy cut, but DJ is gone

by rockybrown on Mar 4, 2010 7:32 PM CST reply actions

AWWWWWWW YEEEEEAAAAAHHHHHH!

by WaveOcean on Mar 4, 2010 8:25 PM CST reply actions

THANK GOD!!!!!!!

because I couldn't go for 3...

by SouthBayBuckeye on Mar 4, 2010 8:36 PM CST reply actions

Good News!

I am a Blazer fan first, but I love Lebron and want to see the Cav’s win a title this year. If we can’t beat LA then you guy’s have to do it for us. Having Big Z is key to that goal.

"He's just so big and strong and he overpowers everybody on our team," ~ Kurt Rambis

by Medhast on Mar 4, 2010 11:19 PM CST reply actions

You said it

I hope you guys can make the playoffs!

by WaveOcean on Mar 4, 2010 11:23 PM CST up reply actions

Stop ganging up on us!

"This is not a game for boys. This is a game for men." - Phil Jackson

by Gil Meriken on Mar 5, 2010 1:20 AM CST up reply actions

I promise as soon as the Cavs win a Championship we’ll stop picking on you guys.

by CavsLebronFan on Mar 5, 2010 6:51 AM CST up reply actions

I guarantee that as soon as the Cavs win a championshbip, we’ll START picking on them. They ain’t seen nothin yet

The Buckeye Battle Cry
SB Nation's official Ohio State blog

by Jeff at the BBC on Mar 5, 2010 7:45 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

False, I'll always be a Laker hater

living in LA and hearing all the outright homerism will do that to ya.

because I couldn't go for 3...

by SouthBayBuckeye on Mar 5, 2010 9:27 AM CST up reply actions

you don’t even need to be in LA to hear the outright homerism…just read anything JA Adande writes.

by bross09 on Mar 5, 2010 9:52 AM CST up reply actions

He's almost as bad as Jalen Rose still riding that Celetics bandwagon in to the gound

because I couldn't go for 3...

by SouthBayBuckeye on Mar 5, 2010 9:55 AM CST up reply actions

You can add Kenny Smith to that list too. He wants to have Kobe’s children also.

by Simmsinns on Mar 5, 2010 2:23 PM CST up reply actions

you mean he hasn't already?

because I couldn't go for 3...

by SouthBayBuckeye on Mar 5, 2010 2:58 PM CST up reply actions

In other news today

The Celtics signed Michael Finley. As Pounding the Rock would say, “Look out LA! Clippers, that is…”

by WaveOcean on Mar 4, 2010 11:24 PM CST reply actions

Hey, now

Dont bash the Celtics. They’re the best team ever when they’re healthy, don’t you know that?

/sarcasm

The Buckeye Battle Cry
SB Nation's official Ohio State blog

by Jeff at the BBC on Mar 5, 2010 6:40 AM CST up reply actions

“Because they’ve been there and done it before!”

by Simmsinns on Mar 5, 2010 2:25 PM CST up reply actions

Hey

One can only hope that “principle” is true for the Mo and the rest of the supporting cast, not a repeat of last year’s choke job.

Canadian Cavalier (or bandwagon fan if you purists must insist)

by Lex L. on Mar 5, 2010 3:54 PM CST up reply actions

Just what they need, another guy well into his 30’s…

by CavsLebronFan on Mar 5, 2010 6:52 AM CST up reply actions

lol yea i know right. but back on topic i jus wanted to say…WELCOME BACK HOME BIG Z. CLEVELAND LOVES YOU LIKE A BROTHER!

by eye_was_born_ready on Mar 5, 2010 6:56 AM CST up reply actions

yep…a 37 year old jump shooter.

I wonder what Under-30 bench player they will cut to make room.

by bross09 on Mar 5, 2010 9:53 AM CST up reply actions

I coulda swore Finley was older than 37....

didn’t he play with Bob McAdoo back in the day?

because I couldn't go for 3...

by SouthBayBuckeye on Mar 5, 2010 9:56 AM CST up reply actions

Experience, baby.

by NormanConquest on Mar 5, 2010 2:03 PM CST up reply actions

ZING

wait, are you serious?

because I couldn't go for 3...

by SouthBayBuckeye on Mar 5, 2010 9:27 AM CST up reply actions

Zeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

by Bernie19Kosar on Mar 5, 2010 2:21 AM CST reply actions

I have tickets to the March 28 game against the Kings, and I just realized that if Z signs on the 22nd then that will be the first home game when he’ll be back!! That will be exciting! I’ll be standing to give him a huge ovation when he’s introduced (since I assume he’ll be in the starting lineup) along with the rest of the crowd, I’m sure.

by Buckeye Brad on Mar 5, 2010 7:52 AM CST up reply actions

I might have to get ~~cheap~~ seats to this one also! Z has been a long time favorite Cav. When I first read this I was happy, though not surprised, and thought I’d have to see when his first home game back was. Hope they’v got some under $20. I’ll be wearing my #11 jersey, if they do.

by Simmsinns on Mar 5, 2010 4:09 PM CST up reply actions

Very glad to hear Z is on his way back. I don’t believe for a minute he was upset with us for trading him. He knows Jamison coming here gives him a better chance of finally getting that ring he wants so bad, and on top of that he got a 30 day vacation so he’ll be fresh when it counts. As for the money he loses, the way i see it (and the way i think he sees it) is that it evens out the money he got while injured.

We’ve been good to him over the years and he’s been good to us, so it’s fitting that he finally wins a championship with the team he’s been with his entire career in what could be his final season.

by CavsLebronFan on Mar 5, 2010 6:57 AM CST reply actions

YEAH!!!!!!

by emily522 on Mar 5, 2010 10:35 AM CST reply actions

Congratulations, Ohioans

Maybe it’s hyperbolic on my part, but I’m guessing you are his adoptive homeland, and he your adopted son. Us Canadians can’t say the same thing, not with VC, McGrady, Camby, Damon Stoudamire, or any past big name that’s played for the Raptors. Hell, we know with Chris Bosh, it’s not a matter of if he’s leaving, it’s when. He could stay for a while, but inevitably, he’ll go the KG manner, either the GM having pity on him, or he himself getting tired of being first round fodder.

Canadian Cavalier (or bandwagon fan if you purists must insist)

by Lex L. on Mar 5, 2010 12:17 PM CST reply actions