Posted on Tuesday 5 July 2005 by JEC @ 3:23 pm
The more I think about the possibility of re-signing Zydrunas Ilguaskas, the more I think it would be a bad move. The Cavs are faced with the unique opportunity to completely rebuild their team around their best player because they’ve got a boatload of money to spend in the free-agent market and a roster in need of serious overhaul. With the amount of cash Danny Ferry has burning a hole in his pocket, he can go out and pick up three new starters this summer to complement LeBron.
First, they need a shooter, with Michael Redd, Joe Johnson and Larry Hughes atop the list. They’re also looking for a point guard, with Antonio Daniels and Earl Watson, who play defense as well as they run an offense, representing two solid possibilities, along with Lithuanian point guard Sarunas Jasikevicius. And then, of course, they need a center. Before Danny Ferry was hired, Dan Gilbert apparently was ready to let Z walk. Since then, though, Ferry has reportedly convinced Gilbert that keeping Z is the right move. I’m not convinced.
Here’s the thing with Z: He’s a very good offensive center, second only to Shaq in the East. But he’s often a liability on the defensive end of the court, he’s asking for $10 or $12 million a year for five years and, as we know all too well, he’s got a brutal injury history. Granted, Z’s been remarkably healthy the past three years but that could very well mean he’s overdue.
Overlooking the injury issue, though, there’s one more significant reason re-signing Z doesn’t make sense for the Cavaliers: he just doesn’t fit. As I stated in an earlier post, LeBron has proven the past two years that he’s much more dangerous on the run than he is in the half-court set. The problem is, when Z is on the floor the Cavs are always in the half court. If Ferry ends up re-signing Z, then the offense will be built around Z, which doesn’t make any sense considering LeBron’s your best player and, quite possibly, the best young player in the game. If the Cavs bring Z back, they’ll be forced to be a half-court team, which limits LeBron’s productivity. How does that benefit the Cavs?
It’s easy to understand why Ferry thinks so highly of Z: He’s been watching Tim Duncan dominate in San Antonio the past few years. But the difference is, Duncan is the Spurs’ best player; Z is not the Cavaliers’ best player, nor is he nearly the player that Duncan is, offensively or defensively. Use that $12 million to plug several holes on the roster — go get an athletic big man who can block shots, rebound and run the floor, a guy like Tyson Chandler, Stromile Swift or Samuel Dalembert, and then beef up the bench with one or two other contributors. Z has proven to be a potent scorer and consistent rebounder with the Cavs but this isn’t his team; it’s LeBron’s. And Ferry needs to realize that, while Z is a good player, he just isn’t a good fit for this team.
Word is Ferry and Z are best of friends and can be seen closing down the Kennilworth Tavern in Lakewood a couple of nights a week.
One of my friends saw Ferry and Mike Brown there on Friday night, less than 24 hours after the signing period started. Ferry got a cell phone call and walked out of the bar to chants of “Ray Allen!!” Mike Brown followed him out and no one knew who he was.
Glad that they are at least working hard.
Oh, they’re best buds? That’s a great reason to sign Z!
What if you can keep Z for three years at $10 million per year, and start developing an athletic backup who can really mix things up and run the court? It could give the Cavs a great 1-2 punch. In games where the Cavs are running more, Z won’t play as much. Yet there will also be times where Z will be able to exploit the other team’s lack of size by pounding them down low.
That seems like an awful lot of money to pay a part-time player. I just look at the Phoenix Suns and think, “We could do that.” We just need the right free agents.
Fair enough, but who would you get to play center?
That’s where these athletic big men come in, guys like Chandler, Dalembert, Swift, Eddy Curry or even Kwame Brown. We don’t need 18 a game from our center — 10 points, 10 boards and a couple blocks a night would be fantastic if we’re getting 50 from LeBron and Redd.
the cavs will not end up with redd…he’d be foolish to leave 20mill on the table. hughes appears that he will stay in washington where he’s happy, although i would love to have his defense. johnson is restricted and phoenix has said they will match any offers. so what does that leave us at that position? do you let z go then and try and pick up some scrappers to fill the 2 and the 5? will they help? possibly but they will not get the cavs anywhere.
Obviously, if the Cavs miss out on Redd, Hughes and Johnson, then it makes more sense to re-sign Z, and there certainly are plenty of people out there saying Redd’s not going anywhere. But while $20 million is a lot of money, you’ve got to think the opportunity to play with LeBron in his home state is attractive to Redd. Attractive enough to leave $20 mil on the table? We’ll find out, I guess.
I think they’ll get Redd or at least end up with some good help at the 2 spot. Redd visits today.
The key on Z will be contract terms. If we can limit it to a three year deal, then it makes sense because it would be easy to manage. If Ferry signs him for 5 years and lots of cash, we are screwed if he gets hurt. We cannot take that risk.
Signing Z for three years as opposed to five would make some sense, especially if they can limit it to $9 or $10 million annually instead of $12. The fact that they’re also looking at this Lithuanian point guard, after trading for the Lithuanian center, tells you that Ferry’s serious about inking Z. I just hope he doesn’t handcuff the entire organization to do it.
The other thing here is, Hughes could very well leave Washington. If Redd chooses to stay in Milwaukee, Hughes may find the chance to play with LeBron too tempting. He’s not the outside shooter that Redd is but he’s a much more complete two-guard who can knock down the occassional three. Everyone’s assuming Hughes is staying with the Wizards but that’s no sure thing.