Cavaliers reach out to Ilgauskas

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

The Cavaliers are applying full-court pressure to Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

Several of the center’s former Cleveland teammates visited him in New York on Tuesday, hoping to persuade him to re-sign with the Cavs and help them make a run at an NBA title. Ilgauskas, who has a place in SoHo, was traded last month to Washington in the deal for forward Antawn Jamison.

The Cavs play at New Jersey on Wednesday, and they reached out to the big man affectionately known as “Z.”

“They told him they want him to come back,” said agent Herb Rudoy. “[Cavaliers general manager] Danny Ferry flew in the other day and met with him, too.”

Ilgauskas recently bought out his contract with the Wizards, freeing him to re-sign with any team after 30 days.

The Cavs need him.

With Shaquille O’Neal out for the remainder of the regular season following thumb surgery, Cleveland’s frontline is woefully undersized. On Monday, coach Mike Brown started 6-foot-9 forward J.J. Hickson at center. Hickson scored 17 points with nine rebounds and two blocks in a rout of the Knicks, but he’s just a temporary fix.

Ilgauskas has drawn interest from several other teams, including the Hawks. Rudoy said Ilgauskas is weighing his options and that the 34-year-old has mixed feelings.

“He’s got a big emotional investment in Cleveland, in the city and the team,” Rudoy said. “On the other hand, he was not happy to be used as a pawn in the trade.”

Rudoy expects Ilgauskas to make a decision by this weekend. Ilgauskas can announce where he’ll play at anytime but cannot sign a contract until March 22.

“He’ll tell me when he’s ready to tell me,” Rudoy said. “I’m waiting to hear from him.”

Cleveland’s career leader in rebounds and games played, Ilgauskas is one of the Cavs’ most popular players. But this has been a strange season for the 7-foot-3 veteran, whose career was nearly ended prematurely because of serious foot injuries that cost him two full seasons.