Ilgauskus to NY a Possibility

[Knicks Analyst]

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> When Zydrunas Ilgauskas travels for his expected recruiting trip to the Knicks in July, he can do it by subway.

The Cavs' 7-3 free-agent center, the exact piece the Knicks need to fill their giant vacancy in the pivot, said he is hunting for a place on the Upper West Side and would consider signing with the Knicks this summer.

Ilgauskas' wife, Jennifer, whom he married last summer, hails from New York and they plan to live in Manhattan in the offseason. Knicks president Isiah Thomas would like to make Ilgauskas a full-time New York resident, as it's looking like the Cavaliers won't re-sign him</div>

Source (NY Post)
Another source (Daily News)

Rumors about the Knicks circulating before the season ends - that's New York.
Let's discuss nonetheless.

 

[el_guasibiri]

I like him,he's one of the best centers active and has that good jump shot from 18'feet
but Im nervous about the foot surgery that put him out of action the past 4 season.
I don't want another failure deal like the Antonio McDyess that put our dream season into a nightmare.But Im rooting to get him because he's the all complete center we need out there.

 

[Mr. J]

I would be SO happy if we pick up Big Z this summer. I'd be more happy picking up James in 2007 too! Ilguaskas will give us a good shot blocker and a good shooting touch. Also he will be able to help out some of our players on and off the court. We would be playoff bound with Big Z in the paint. Hopefully this happens. If Cleveland doesn't make the post season, perhaps he'll sign with us. Please Mrs. Jennifer Ilgauskas, convince your husband to sign!

 

[briang8818]

The foot iunjury hasn't been a factor for three years now, so I think it's safe to say we can put that to rest.

However, the cavs are all Big Z has known, and we stuck by him when everyone said he would never be healthy. It wouldn't suprise me if he stays. But I mean, how do you turn down those endorsements (j/k)

He isn't asking for much, and I would think if it came down to the same offer between NY and CLE, he will pick cleveland.

 

[Mr. J]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting briang8818:</div><div class="quote_post">The foot iunjury hasn't been a factor for three years now, so I think it's safe to say we can put that to rest.

However, the cavs are all Big Z has known, and we stuck by him when everyone said he would never be healthy. It wouldn't suprise me if he stays. But I mean, how do you turn down those endorsements (j/k)

He isn't asking for much, and I would think if it came down to the same offer between NY and CLE, he will pick cleveland.</div>
I don't know. If he is looking for a place in NY, there is a big possibility that he will resign. Also if Cleveland doesn't make the playoffs, he might decide to leave. Another reason is if the Knicks can get a solid rookie and do something with their expiring contracts.

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting el_guasibiri:</div><div class="quote_post">I like him,he's one of the best centers active and has that good jump shot from 18'feet
but Im nervous about the foot surgery that put him out of action the past 4 season.
I don't want another failure deal like the Antonio McDyess that put our dream season into a nightmare.But Im rooting to get him because he's the all complete center we need out there.</div>
The thing about McDyess was that we traded our 6th pick overall and Camby and Mark Jackson for McDyess who only played 10 games that season. It was an absolute huge risk. We took it and while it was a pretty satisfying season considering our little help, we didn't make the playoffs. Big Z has played 162/164 games the past two years and played 75 games so far this season. He seems pretty healthy.

 

[Beat]

Nene was traded for Mcdyess but anyway how much will Z want to get payed?

 

[Mr. J]

I don't think we'll give him a truck load of money. I think we can get him for a reasonable contract.

 

[BigBlueFan]

The Cavs have a ton of cap room for the offseason and I think their #1 priority is to get Z back. I think Z will return because he likes working with LeBron and LeBron has made him a much better player. I don't think the Knicks have anyone that Z can say that about except Marbury maybe.

 

[JWohl]

what I've heard

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting BobbyEscobar:</div><div class="quote_post">

Nene was traded for Mcdyess but anyway how much will Z want to get payed?</div>

Via Marc Stein Ive heard he wants around 3yrs / 34 M with the first year being around 10 mil.

 

[Mr. J]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting UKOwnstheSEC:</div><div class="quote_post">The Cavs have a ton of cap room for the offseason and I think their #1 priority is to get Z back. I think Z will return because he likes working with LeBron and LeBron has made him a much better player. I don't think the Knicks have anyone that Z can say that about except Marbury maybe.</div>
I heard the Cavs want to save that money for when James becomes a free agent. Has Z really become a much better player? His stats haven't really improved at all. Even if only Marbury impresses him, just the environment of NY impresses him enough to even consider leaving.

 

[briang8818]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting mrj18:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't know. If he is looking for a place in NY, there is a big possibility that he will resign. Also if Cleveland doesn't make the playoffs, he might decide to leave. Another reason is if the Knicks can get a solid rookie and do something with their expiring contracts.</div>I'm really not getting this at all. Leave a team because they just missed out on the playoffs to go to a team that missed them by an even bigger margain with 50% of the players probably getting shipped in contract moves.

And I still think the environment of NY is being far overestimated.

 

[og15]

I don't get how it would work? Also what are Ilguaskas' ties to New York? They aren't a better team than the Cavs, and I know he's not from New York or anything, so he's not going to take a paycut to go there.

Also it's not like he had endorsments that would allow him to get more money or something, so I'm a little confused. New York really isn't in any position to get Ilguaskas, and they don't have any pieces that realistically would interest the Cavs in a S&T. Ilguaskas will get a contract starting at minimum 7 million, all the Knicks have to sign players is the MLE and S&T's, and unless they give the Cavs a very good offer, a S&T will not happen. They'd have to offer the Cavs something that would be better than having Z return.

 

[Knicks Analyst]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't get how it would work? Also what are Ilguaskas' ties to New York? They aren't a better team than the Cavs, and I know he's not from New York or anything, so he's not going to take a paycut to go there.

Also it's not like he had endorsments that would allow him to get more money or something, so I'm a little confused. New York really isn't in any position to get Ilguaskas, and they don't have any pieces that realistically would interest the Cavs in a S&T. Ilguaskas will get a contract starting at minimum 7 million, all the Knicks have to sign players is the MLE and S&T's, and unless they give the Cavs a very good offer, a S&T will not happen. They'd have to offer the Cavs something that would be better than having Z return.</div>
The answer to your question lies here:

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"><font color="red"> Ilgauskas' wife, Jennifer, whom he married last summer, hails from New York and they plan to live in Manhattan in the offseason. Knicks president Isiah Thomas would like to make Ilgauskas a full-time New York resident, as it's looking like the Cavaliers won't re-sign him.</font> </div>Link (NYPost - same article as posted earlier)
Ilgauskas has some good reasons to make the Big Apple his home - it's the greatest city in the world & his wife feels at home there. If you were in his position wouldn't you go? And all the same, if you were offered some millions less to play in your [new] hometown, you wouldn't go? There are a select few who really do want to play in Manhattan, because of the location.

I have to agree with you completely, I don't think a sign-and-trade will happen, I find it highly unlikely. It appears, however, from this article, that Z could land in New York with a new, smaller, contract.

 

[Tribute to H2O]

Ilgauskas doesnt look like he's going to return to Cleveland. They for some odd reason are probably not going to resign him even though they can and should. Now while I'd love to have the Big Z since with him and a fully healthy team we could possibly turn this whole franchise around. But we're not going to get him. Big Z is the second best center in the East and what do we have to offer him? The MLE?? He can make alot more money playing somewhere else. So we wont be able to sign him outright(unless of course his wife makes him sign with us). The Cavaliers might look to do a sign and trade so they get some sort of compensation but it wont be with New York. First off we dont have much to offer them(Kurt Thomas, expiring contracts, draft picks). Secondly, the Cavaliers almost certainly wouldnt trade him to a team in the Eastern Conference, they'll try to move him West. So the chances of Big Z ending up in New York is somewhere between zero and fat chance. It would be nice though having Marbury, Houston, whoever, Sweetney, Big Z with Crawford and Ariza coming off the bench. But it's not going to happen.

 

[WadeDynasty]

I wanna know ...do the knicks have cap to sign Z ????????????

 

[JWohl]

response

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting WadeDynasty:</div><div class="quote_post">I wanna know ...do the knicks have cap to sign Z ????????????</div>
I wanna know.......have you ever heard of a sign and trade deal?