<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Cleveland Cavaliers will be in evaluation mode for the next few weeks. They have three picks in June's NBA Draft and four of their own free agents to deal with, but the largest and first decision could involve center Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Ilgauskas, the longest-tenured Cavalier, could be the subject of trade talks, team insiders said. It is a complex issue for General Manager Danny Ferry, one that will play out in the coming months. Before the Cavs make any personnel decisions, they will have to decide what sort of changes need to be made. The Cavs' defense turned into a strong point by the end of the season, and their chemistry was perhaps the best in the NBA. The offense had its moments, but broke down under pressure at times during the season and in the playoff loss to the Detroit Pistons. How the team proceeds in this area might determine Ilgauskas' future. Coach Mike Brown said this week that he would consider bringing in an offensive-minded assistant coach. If a new assistant comes in, his philosophy would play into the decisions. If Brown decides to make changes himself, that would play in. Ferry has the final word on all decisions. How Ilgauskas' talents match up with the Cavs' chosen course could determine whether they look at any possibilities of trading him. Ilgauskas struggled during the postseason, averaging 10 points and shooting 45 percent, both well below his regular-season averages. The Cavs sometimes performed better with a quicker lineup on the floor, including young big man Anderson Varejao. Officials from other teams, as well as some of Ilgauskas' teammates, believe he is under-used in the Cavs' current offensive scheme. The answer might be that he is not the right fit with the talent on the roster, and the Cavs could look to join a growing trend in the NBA, which is to play a more up-tempo game with less emphasis on a back-to-the-basket center like Ilgauskas. Ferry, however, is a big supporter of Ilgauskas and pushed to re-sign him when he was hired as GM last June. Until Ferry's arrival, it appeared Ilgauskas' return was not a sure thing for the 2005-06 season. In July, Ferry got Ilgauskas to agree to a five-year, $51 million contract. The deal required Ilgauskas to take a $6 million pay cut from the previous season, which helped the Cavs add three other high-profile free agents: Larry Hughes, Donyell Marshall and Damon Jones. In return, Ilgauskas received a fifth season on the contract worth $11.5 million that was his option, a kicker that hikes his salary 15 percent if he's traded and premium refunds on a $24 million insurance policy. Even with all of that, there is a belief that there would be a demand on the trade market for Ilgauskas. Regarded as one of the top three offensive centers in the NBA, behind Shaquille O'Neal and Yao Ming, numerous teams who have a hole in the middle might have interest. During the past year, the two players Ferry got the most trade pitches for were Ilgauskas, who is still only 30, and Varejao, a team insider said. At this point, nothing is certain except there will be some exploration in the coming months. </div> link: http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews...ts/14660409.htm
Well, I am all for trading Z. I mean he played terrible this year IMO, and he is slow. Big Anderson should start and we get a guy like Augustine or Batista to back him up.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting 50:</div><div class="quote_post">Well, I am all for trading Z. I mean he played terrible this year IMO, and he is slow. Big Anderson should start and we get a guy like Augustine or Batista to back him up.</div> terrible? well, maybe in the regular season, but in the playoffs he was a beast! the guy was blocking, rebounding, and getting in put backs after missed shots.
I like how the article said that he had a solid season and a sub par postseason, then Brain says that he was bad in the regular season and a "BEAST" in the postseason. I can't say much about the regular season, but I don't really think he was a beast in the playoffs....i'd much rather have Anderson Varejao.
The bottom line is that KG wants to play with lebron, and we need to move Z. Let's pickup KG and be done with it. There's no point for him to play with Minnasota when he doesn't want to be there.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Phuzer:</div><div class="quote_post">Jup, and once we do that, we can trade Gooden for Duncan, right?</div> Obviously it wouldn't be a stright up trade with Z and KG. I hope you weren't thinking that.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">terrible? well, maybe in the regular season, but in the playoffs he was a beast! the guy was blocking, rebounding, and getting in put backs after missed shots. </div> What games were you watching?...I recall Z having one good game during the post season....correct me if I'm wrong.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Brian:</div><div class="quote_post">terrible? well, maybe in the regular season, but in the playoffs he was a beast! the guy was blocking, rebounding, and getting in put backs after missed shots.</div> Don't you mean the opposite? He disappeared in the playoffs ...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Phuzer:</div><div class="quote_post">LML, face it, we just don't have the talent to get a guy like KG. It's simply impossible.</div> Your overlooking the fact that KG doesn't want to stay where he is at. His words were "I want to play with Lebron, someone that passes the ball." T'wolves choices are to part with KG and get Z in some kind of combo deal, risk getting less for KG, or having a player on their team that doesn't want to be there.
