Cleveland Cavaliers Pay Visit To Ilgauskas' Home

Sports News - March 3rd, 2010 - Written By Bryan Cross

Zydrunas Ilgauskas can't re-sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers for another three weeks, but it seems more-and-more likely he will wait it out and return to his former team.

In a move similar to college basketball recruiters, several of the Cavs team members visited Ilgauskas in his New York City home to convince him to return to Cleveland.

Ilgauskas was dealt to the Washington Wizards in a trade-deadline deal that brought in Antawn Jamison. After less just a week, the center came to a buyout agreement with Washington to allow him to walk. Per NBA rules, he has to wait at least 30 days to return to the team that traded him, which will be March 22.

Among the visitors in his home was Cleveland general manager Danny Ferry.

Ilgauskas isn't a guarantee, though, because according to the Associated Press, he is feeling down about being a "pawn" in the Jamison deal. But the Cavs are the only team he's ever played for over the course of his 11-year career, and he's the franchise leader in points and rebounds.

Cleveland needs him all the more with the absence of Shaquille O'Neal due to thumb surgery. O'Neal broke his right thumb last weekend against the Boston Celtics, and chose surgery that could keep him out until the playoffs.

Without their two big men, the Cavaliers are forced to start third-stringer Anderson Varejao down low. Varejao has led the team in rebounds twice in the last five games, and is averaging over 11 points in that span.

Cleveland has won four in a row as of Wednesday, and is 7-3 in it's last 10 games. NBA Betting Lines have the Cavaliers as a 10-point favorite against the New Jersey Nets, according to Bodog.