According to Brian Windhorst, Zydrunas Ilgauskas will join LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh in Miami next season.
Miami gets the center they needed, although I do think they would have wanted a more athletic center who could allow them to get out on the break a bit more. Still, Ilgauskas can defend the rim, finish around the basket, doesn’t do many stupid things, and will be a great locker-room presence for them.
It’ll be tough not seeing Ilgauskas on the roster, but I respect his decision. Ilgauskas has given everything and more to the Cavalier franchise, and he deserves a shot at that elusive ring. The best player to ever wear a Cavalier uniform left on Thursday; one of the greatest Cavaliers ever left today. Best of luck to Zydrunas in all his future endeavors, and hopefully we will see him come back to the Cavaliers for one more run before his jersey gets raised to the rafters.
Oh, hell. I didn’t want even one small part of me to be hoping for the Heat to succeed. Now it’s complicated.
Z is the man, and seeing him succeed will be a spoonful of sugar to help the bitter LBJ medicine go down.
@Matt P — I thought the exact same thing.
@Mark — I thought the exact same thing.
Best of luck Big Z. Class act all the way.
@Chip P – I thought the exact same thing.
Good move for Z. I don’t think he would have ended up fitting into the new Cavs very well. Now he can come off the bench (I’m guessing, if not I’m LMFAO at the rest of their personnel decisions in South Beach) for about 15 min a game for the vet minimum he probably would have got anywhere and hopefully finally get a ring. Now I guess we have to hope the mysterious elbow problem reappears for the playoffs and Congressman James has to sit them out so we can root for Z without indirectly cheering for the politician.
And before someone spins this into a “Z is doing the same thing Lebron did”, why aren’t you jumping on him …
- Z didn’t quit on his team in the playoffs this year and say “I spoil people”. He did nothing but work hard and do whatever his team needed to do … for 12 years.
- Z never had any say on who joined or left the team, so if he leaves it’s not like he’s saying, “Enjoy that crappy roster I helped put together for you”.
- Z hasn’t led the front office on. He stated almost immediately after the season that if the team didn’t think he could play a major role that he would probably move on, and the FO was aware of that. They’ve had plenty of time to consider what they want to do to replace him.
- Z is in the twilight of his career, when fans are generally cool with allowing a player to go “ring hunt” and usually hope that they succeed. See players like Ray Bourque, Gary Payton, etc. He’s not in his prime where if he kicks the team to the curb with zero warning, they are set back 10 years.
- Z has already show major appreciation to Cleveland fans.
- Most importantly, Z never made an hour long primetime special to flip a double barrelled middle finger salute to Cavs fans and ownership.
the cavs suck 1st lebron now big z i can see the cavs out of the playoffs for awhile.
@Excl – You didn’t mention that Z has given his entire career to the Cavs. Also, he came back to the team after being used in a trade to bring in Jamison. There’s nothing more you can ask from him.
He has given every last bit of loyalty he could possibly give, and it’s loyalty in return for the Cavs to allow him to find a better opportunity at a ring. I personally will miss getting to see Z in a Cavs uniform…
Hopefully, if Z gets a ring it will add a nice coda to ‘The Giving Z”
btw – did y’all know that Slate’s sports podcast gave props (if half-sarcastic ones) to Krolik for that poem? Still rings true, lo, these many months later
To bad I can’t root for him to win that ring. MAYBE if Bron had a season ending injury or declared himself his own country and moved to a dessert island or some such.
Yes, an island make of ice cream and sprinkles.
Yea, the only way I can root for the Heat is if LBJ goes down with a torn ACL or something. That way, the Heat can win a title W/O LBJ and hecan forever live knowing his team was better w/o him. Ahhhhhhhhhh, if dreams came true.
Rich, your bitterness says a great deal more about you than it does Lebron. You have made this comments section a genuinely less pleasant place to spend any time, and thats sad.
Ah w/e dude, I ‘ve been looking forward to summer league for a while. I’m no more bitter about LBJ leaving than your average CLE sports fan.
It was this more than anything that bothered me. I’ll quote:
Rich; “Perry, wrong board. Don’t give me this bullshit of what he’s selling “us,” cause clearly you aren’t us. No one in their right mind expects this team to win a title anytime soon, but I fully believe they can prevent the heat from winning one by giving away players while rebuilding to specific teams.”
I don’t know what made you think you could set the tone of the board, or who a Cavs fan. I certainly don’t share your desire to bomb purely to stop the Heat from winning. What a bleak outlook.
I don’t want to bomb to keep the Heat from winning. I just know this team doesn’t have the talent to do anything of significance and tearing it down is the best way forward. It’s not like I’m the only voice saying that.
If you think this team can still compete at a high level w/o LBJ, then you can believe that. But Hollinger has a stat called estimated wins, and I’m sure you know who led the league in that stat last year. 30.5 wins added by LBJ. Take him off the team, and oyu have a lottery team.
Happy that Jefferson is going somewhere that is not here. The guy’s contract is massive and to give away two draft picks when we need them for the future would have been a bad, bad move. He would have just set the rebuilding process back another 3-4 years.
Thanks for the time Z…. though, its not like Miami picked up someone to defend Dwight Howard. Howard DESTROYED Z two years ago… and we all saw how bad Z was last year.
I’m a Cavs fan and fully support Z in Miami. Good luck to him (alone) in attaining that elusive championship ring.
But here’s the campaign that I want to see take-off. The Miami Heat have to play at least one game in Cleveland this year and most likely two. At least for the first one back, I want every fan in the Q to raucously boo Lebron when he touches the ball. Nothing new with that. But now when our beloved Z touches the ball, I want to see Cavs fans show their appreciation to someone that really gave it his all for the franchise, and cheer insanely loud. Do we want the Heat to win? No. Do we want them to do well? Not particularly. However I think educating Lebron in his former home will be powerful imagery. Start the BooBron, Go-Z campaign*!
*certainly open to new campaign title ideas
Z sucks, always did. Hope he breaks both his feet in Miami
Z and Bron on the Heat together is like a tale of two cities – the best of times and the worst of times… Both Z and Bron gave us fans a ton to cheer for and helped make the Cavs a real threat again. I’ll cheer for Z and wish him the best of success – and yes If the Cavs are out of it, I’ll wish him a ring.
On the other hand, I’ll boo LeBron and hope that Wade comes out to be the real star and leader of the team with LeBron being the sidekick. I don’t wish any harm to any player – even LeBron. But on every shot he takes I’ll hope he misses. IF the Heat do make it to the fianls and take home a championship, I just hope that it’s clearly NOT because of LeBron.
Z is leaving the right way, he notified the owner directly and didn’t make a show of it. He never requested/implied that the team do any special favors for him or his friends in order to get him to stay. He never requeste/implied a need for special treatment and never appeared to be a me first guy. When Shaq came he took a back seat, when he was traded he didn’t let his ego get in the way. He just kept on competing to the best of his ability and did so in a humble way. Z represents the city of Cleveland well as a class act of a guy who never sought out the limelight and just kept on moving forward. Despite injuries to his feet, he kept on fighting and kept on overcoming the odds.
When Z is anounce in Quicken loans arena wearing the Heat uniform, I hope that other Cavs fan will show just as much appreciation for him and who/how he is as a man, player and class act as they boo LeBron for who LeBron has shown to be.
These comments are unreal, some Cavs fans have lost it. If LeBron never came to Cleveland, everyone would know Z as a serviceable center who was maybe the most consistent player on a perennially terrible team. Similarly to all the other players, LeBron made Z into a winner.
I don’t blame fans for being upset at LeBron for the way he left, but honestly, to reminisce like Z was some great player and warrior is rewriting history to serve your own means. Specifically, making yourself feel better about LeBron
MF: Cavs fans have FOUND something REAL with Z. They haven’t ‘lost it’ with him and that’s what makes these comments so real.
Z has been with the team for 12 years, that’s why he’s ben a fan favorite. Seeing him fight throught the pain and come back after the issues with his feet only bolstered who he is. It’ not because Z was a winner that turned fans onto him, it was because he was that consistent serviceable player.
It’s kind of like falling in love with the the semi-attractive nerdy girl that you’ve known for years. It’s the hotties that have come and gone that you always tried for and one day you realize you had a great girl all along.
Z will never be considered one of the all time greats, (he’s not even one of the best Cavs of all time), he won’t go to the hall of fame, people outside of Cleveland won’t even remember his name 10 years from now. It’s not about talent or fame it’s about something a lot deeper than that, and it’s unfortuneate that you don’t get it.
Wow, MF, way to completely miss the point. Sheesh.
What’s the Cavs plan at this point? They’re under the salary cap with a huge trade exception. They need a C and SF. I was intrigued by Ben Wallace and Josh Childress…they’re both gone now. When are the Cavs going to make a move? Who’s looking to shed salary that will give someone up for a trade exception, draft picks, etc?
Kevin, I think the front office may be enjoying not being under the gun for once. Maybe they’re just sitting around fishing selectively because they can, Gilbert’s promise aside. The trade exception lasts all season. I’d hold on to that until the right deal comes around. They’re also in the position where they could credibly threaten to swallow it, so they can’t get bullied into anything at the trade deadline.
I’m kind of hoping they don’t make any major moves between now and the beginning of the season. That would potentially be one of the most intriguing tests of Bill Simmon’s Ewing Theory ever.
can they at least sign matt barnes or something?
the heat are going all the way stop being haterzzzz lebron for life if he stayed with the cavaliers u would be kissing his ass now that he lefted u hate him fuck u all lets go heat
and big z is to good for the shityy cavs fuck cleveland pussyyyyy ass bitches with z the heat are going to be great
ben tej…i think the cavs need to have at least 13 players under contract. If they keep Jawad Williams they have 12. If they don’t keep Jawad Williams, they have 11. It seems like they need to sign a center and I wouldn’t mind signing a matt barnes or someone. i hope they sign at least one player who is not a minimum salary player from the summer league team. i’m not saying they need to tie up a bunch of cap space long term, but it’d be nice to add a couple of reasonable pieces to the team at sf and c.
i agree that a trade can wait until teams get desperate as the year goes by. I was just curious who anyone thought the Cavs could eventually target.
Yeah they definitely have to fill out the rest of their roster. I don’t know who they really go after at this point, besides prospects and filler for tiny contracts.
how about a1-hour Z appreciation special? :D
WOW! First it was LeBRUN & now Big Z…Is this the new age of the Piggy Back….Can’t be mad at the game, but damn…..
Hey, JJ hit a few jumpers. Music to my ears.
Someone didn’t fill weezy in…Z probably shouldn’t be playing more than 5 minutes at this point in his career. I’m sure he’s the key to your title run.
On the TPE and salary cap space…man, would have been nice to have that 2 weeks ago, HEY LEBRON!!!!Hold that TPE till the deadline and see what pops up. See if osmone starts giving away young talent because the team sucks. Even better, someone gives away a big contract but gives a pick with it just because they are so desperate to get under the cap. That’s where that TPE looks awesome. Take on a contract (no more than 2 years though) that a team doesn’t want and take a pick with it. Much like The Wiz did when they took on Hinrich.
On a really troublesome note if you are a Heat fan…mike Miller is starting to reconsider. Aka, he wants more money, which means the Heat will have to pull the qualifying offer for Joel anthony..therefore making Z the only C on the entire roster. Um……yikes.
@Rich:
I’m still having trouble getting past the fact that Weezy actually said “lefted.” Haha… I don’t think Ive heard anyone over the age of 3 say that.
Best-case scenario- Lebron gets injured and misses the season, and Z leads the Heat to a title.
Hey, I can dream, right?
So, is Lowry worth it? What does this mean for Mo? (You know, I was hoping Green would get a lot of playing time, but it looks like we’re steadfast in our desire to have guard logjams).
I really hope Mike Miller does re-consider. The fun scenario is that 1-3-6 are surrounded by Udonis Haslem (plays same position as Bosh), Mario Chalmers (a point who isn’t a good point or shooter), senior citizen big men (ilgauskas and juwan howard), and a bunch of players at the minimum.
I like that without miller, no one on the roster shot more than 33% on 3-pointers last year. Good defensive teams will be able to dare them to shoot threes and give them trouble. Please sign somewhere else, Mike Miller.
Not basketball related, but here’s a moving piece about Cleveland and Harvey Pekar’s passing that still manages to mention LeBron: http://anthony-bourdain-blog.travelchannel.com/read/the-original-goodbye-splendor?refcd=bourdain-fb&fbid=VTNp5ArRjN4
I wish Big Z all the best, even in Miami. He did everything possible to help the team and that’s what loyalty is all about. We all know he wouldn’t have worked with Coach Scott’s new attitude towards playing, so good luck to him in his basketball future.
The only one thing that bothers me is this:
do you guys think Z believes in Lebron quitting against Boston? If he saw what we saw, he must know Lebron quit… Kinda weird that he’s following the guy who could had cost him his first ring as a Cavs…
hopefully all 3 of those aholes in miami wilt under pressure and big Z averages a quintuple double for the playoffs and they win on a Z putback in game 7.