Zydrunas Ilgauskas signs 1-year deal to return to Cleveland Cavaliers
By Mary Schmitt Boyer, The Plain Dealer
March 23, 2010, 2:32PM
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Zydrunas Ilgauskas, the Cavaliers' beloved center, has finalized a one-year deal worth about $1 million to return to the team.
Coach Mike Brown said this afternoon that Ilgauskas was signed and would be available to play when the team travels to New Orleans for a game Wednesday.
Ilgauskas, the team's all-time leader in games played, rebounds and blocked shots was traded to Washington on Feb. 17 in a deal that brought Antawn Jamison and Sebastian Telfair to the Cavs. He was bought out by the Wizards and became a free agent. Monday was the first day the Cavs could offer him a contract.
The Cavs used a pro-rated portion of their bi-annual exception to get the deal done. Combined with the trade bonus he got for being sent to Washington, the deal makes up for the $1.5 million Ilgauskas gave up to become a free agent in a buyout deal.
Ilgauskas was courted by teams like Dallas and Denver, but instructed his agent, Herb Rudoy, to announce his intentions to return to the Cavs, in part because of the outpouring of support he received from fans upon his departure.
He will be paid about $150,000 for the remainder of the season, the prorated amount of the 10-year veteran's minimum.
Ilgauskas was averaging 7.5 points and 5.3 rebounds in 53 games with the Cavs this season.
To clear a roster spot for Ilgauskas, the Cavs released second-year forward Darnell Jackson.