The Cleveland Cavaliers are going to have to make some moves this offseason, and the biggest decision will probably revolve around Zydrunas Ilgauskus. He could be traded. Isiah Thomas has already offered a future #1 draft pick for Zydrunas’s beard clippings and a foot massage from Anderson Varejao.
I’m torn on Big Z. I know that a center who has that sort of shooting touch is a very valuable thing. It’s not something you can give away. With as many things as LeBron can create, having a center who can step out and bury jumper after jumper is a real weapon. He’s got a nice touch in the post, and he’ll snag the occasional offensive board.
But he’s just so slow and goofy. He doesn’t rebound nearly as well on the defensive end, he can’t guard anyone, and… well, I think the people of Cleveland have had to look at his face for long enough. He can play defense. I’ve seen him do it. But the mood doesn’t strike him often. Zydrunas plays like Dirk Nowitzki, if Dirk Nowitzki was 75 years old. Great scoring touch. A liability in nearly every other way. And although he’s been healthy for a while now, he does have a long history of foot injuries. He’s 31 years old, too.
I just don’t know if you can win with him… I don’t know if any team can stand having a big hole like that in the defense, especially as the game speeds up, and you play smaller teams. How many minutes per game could Zydrunas Ilgauskus play in a 7-game series against the Suns? Can a guy play negative minutes? Considering his age, and the trend towards a faster game… I think the Cavs should try to find a taker for him, if it all possible.
Carl Monday
Good points about big Z.
I’ll be keeping an eye on you mjd.
-Carl Monday
May 26, 2006 at 10:36 am
Doug
If they are going to trade, they better get a player back, not a draft pick. It does them no good to have a rookie next year at Center.
May 26, 2006 at 12:16 pm
drunkenstupor
i agree with doug. perhaps they could get a “throw-in” player like the suns got with diaw who could help out in many spots. the game is evolving to the point that big, slow centers are becoming less and less of an asset. just look at the conference finals and what happened to kaman against the suns.
May 27, 2006 at 12:17 am
drunken stupor
the cavs need a more athletic center and should trade big z while they can still maybe get someone decent in return. basketball is evolving to where the big, slow center is becoming almost useless, just look at what the suns did to kaman and the athleticism of the centers left in the conference finals. maybe they could strike gold and get an underrated “throw-in” player like boris diaw who could help at several positions right away.
May 27, 2006 at 10:46 am