<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">LAS VEGAS - Apparently, no progress is no concern. After making a major splash by agreeing to terms with shooting guard Larry Hughes late Thursday, the Cavaliers have shifted their focus to getting a contract done with Zydrunas Ilgauskas. But things are moving slowly. ``There has been zero progress,'' Ilgauskas' agent, Herb Rudoy said on Saturday. ``But I'm not frustrated; that is part of the business.'' Rudoy had talks with Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry on Friday and Saturday but seems no closer to a deal. The Cavaliers seem reasonably confident they can work out a new contract for their All-Star center and, considering Ilgauskas is not making any free-agent visits and is scheduled to leave the country for a three-week trip Monday, perhaps they're right. Rudoy said he is still in discussions with other teams, and whether Ilgauskas is genuinely considering those offers might play a major role in the talks. The Atlanta Hawks, who have more than $20 million in cap space, are recruiting Phoenix Suns guard Joe Johnson and hope to also land Ilgauskas in a package deal that will greatly improve their fortunes. Rudoy is also in talks with teams about sign-and-trade deals. It is believed the Cavaliers might be open to this option as well, depending on whom they can get back in return. If they re-sign him, the Cavaliers would prefer to keep Ilgauskas' salary next year at less than $10 million. If the salary cap comes in at $49 million, which most teams in the NBA are using as their base, the Cavaliers have about $16 million to spend. The Cavaliers are hoping to keep at least $6 million in reserve after signing Ilgauskas so they can seriously compete for a third free agent. Having more to offer than the mid-level exception, which is expected to be about $5.5 million, would give the Cavaliers an advantage. Rudoy and Ilgauskas might go down that road, but will want additional years on the contract, perhaps as many as five or six total, to balance it. Then there's the dicey issue of how the deal will be insured and who will take on the burden considering Ilgauskas' history of foot problems. ``It is going to take awhile for this thing to run its course,'' Rudoy said.</div> Source
