‘Z’ back home: Ilgauskas signs deal to return to Cavs

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Zydrunas Ilgauskas’ agent called Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry at 8:30 a.m. Monday, the first day Ilgauskas was eligible to re-sign with Cleveland.

It took a little longer than expected — the deal wasn’t announced until Tuesday afternoon — but Ilgauskas is back with the only team he has ever known.

“If I would’ve left and the team won a championship without me,” he said, “I don’t think I could’ve ever forgave myself.”

Ilgauskas signed to play for the rest of the season in Cleveland and traveled with the Cavaliers to New Orleans on Tuesday. Coach Mike Brown said he will likely play against the Hornets tonight.

To make room on the roster, Cleveland waived second-year forward Darnell Jackson.

“Z has been a good friend of mine and others in the organization,” said Ferry, who played with Ilgauskas in Cleveland. “We’re excited to have the Ilgauskas family back in Cleveland. This is where they really wanted to be.”

It’s been a difficult season for the veteran center. He became a bench player for the first time in his career when the team acquired Shaquille O’Neal last summer, then he was upset when Brown didn’t play him the night he was expected to break the franchise’s record for most games played.

When Ferry traded his former teammate to Washington in the three-team deal that brought Antawn Jamison and Sebastian Telfair to Cleveland, Ilgauskas had to take a few days to calm his emotions and collect his thoughts.

“It’s been a strange season,” he said.

Washington subsequently bought out his contract before he ever played a game, making him a free agent. While multiple teams around the league showed great interest, Ilgauskas ultimately chose to return to Cleveland. He had to wait 30 days under league rules, but passed the time by working out on his own and getting rare time off with his family.

He returns averaging 7.5 points and 5.3 rebounds this season. Brown hasn’t decided whether he’ll continue to come off the bench or start while O’Neal is out for the remainder of the regular season after thumb surgery.

Cleveland used its biannual exception to sign him for the rest of the season. The 34-year-old had previously hinted at retirement but has since changed his mind.