ducks
04-17-2005, 11:23 PM
Inside Dish: Ilgauskas' future with Cavs uncertain
By Sean Deveney - SportingNews
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The fate of C Zydrunas Ilgauskas remains an intriguing story line. Ilgauskas will be a free agent this summer, and though new owner Dan Gilbert seems to be on the fence about re-signing him--Cleveland would love to save cap space for a run at Ohio's own Michael Redd--SF LeBron James has made it clear he wants Ilgauskas to return. The ultimate goal in Cleveland, of course, is to keep James happy, sign him to a long-term extension and give him a chance at a championship. But if keeping him happy means coughing up cap space on Ilgauskas, the Cavaliers are going to drastically reduce their ability to improve their depth, which should be their first priority. . . .
Sources confirm that G Sarunas Jasikevicius, the star of Lithuania's national team, will join the NBA next season. Jasikevicius poured in 28 points in Lithuania's upset win over Team USA in last year's Olympics. There is no questioning Jasikevicius' credentials as a leader--in addition to his performance with the national team, he helped lead the past two European Final Four champions (FC Barcelona and Maccabi Tel Aviv) and again has Maccabi in the final four, slated for early May in Moscow. Still, though most NBA personnel execs agree there is a spot for Jasikevicius in the NBA, his role will be reduced. "He may not have the complete freedom to play the way he does with his national team, and that makes a huge difference in how a player plays," says one general manager. "In the NBA, he would be a backup." . . .
A free agent of interest will be Bulls PG Chris Duhon, a rookie who was a second-round draft pick. He wisely agreed to a one-year deal last summer, and his defense and savvy earned him a spot in Chicago's starting lineup. Duhon wants to stay with the Bulls, and Chicago wants to keep him. He figures to get a deal in the range of a typical lottery pick, between $1.5 and $3 million per year. . . .
Fans excited by the Warriors' late-season surge should remember that Golden State not only will have a lottery pick this year but also will have its midlevel exception and the $5.3 million trade exception it got when it dealt F Clifford Robinson to the Nets. That means the Warriors can afford to acquire someone a team is looking to move in a salary dump. . . .
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PF Chris Bosh's state of mind is of long-term concern in Toronto. Bosh is the future of the franchise, but he has been very disappointed with the turmoil the team has undergone this year and lashed out at teammates for quitting while he still is giving it his all. Bosh told reporters, "I know we don't have anything to play for as far as the playoffs. I like to win while we still have a chance, while we still have games left. But it's hard to say if anybody's with me." . . .
Speaking of the Raptors, the sum total of averages put in by F Eric Williams, F/C Aaron Williams and C Alonzo Mourning for the Raptors: 24.6 minutes, 6.3 points and 3.5 rebounds. That's the haul Toronto got from New Jersey for SG Vince Carter. (Mourning never played a minute in Toronto and now is in Miami.) The Raptors must hope the two future first-round picks they got in the deal pan out.
By Sean Deveney - SportingNews
Headshot
Logo
The fate of C Zydrunas Ilgauskas remains an intriguing story line. Ilgauskas will be a free agent this summer, and though new owner Dan Gilbert seems to be on the fence about re-signing him--Cleveland would love to save cap space for a run at Ohio's own Michael Redd--SF LeBron James has made it clear he wants Ilgauskas to return. The ultimate goal in Cleveland, of course, is to keep James happy, sign him to a long-term extension and give him a chance at a championship. But if keeping him happy means coughing up cap space on Ilgauskas, the Cavaliers are going to drastically reduce their ability to improve their depth, which should be their first priority. . . .
Sources confirm that G Sarunas Jasikevicius, the star of Lithuania's national team, will join the NBA next season. Jasikevicius poured in 28 points in Lithuania's upset win over Team USA in last year's Olympics. There is no questioning Jasikevicius' credentials as a leader--in addition to his performance with the national team, he helped lead the past two European Final Four champions (FC Barcelona and Maccabi Tel Aviv) and again has Maccabi in the final four, slated for early May in Moscow. Still, though most NBA personnel execs agree there is a spot for Jasikevicius in the NBA, his role will be reduced. "He may not have the complete freedom to play the way he does with his national team, and that makes a huge difference in how a player plays," says one general manager. "In the NBA, he would be a backup." . . .
A free agent of interest will be Bulls PG Chris Duhon, a rookie who was a second-round draft pick. He wisely agreed to a one-year deal last summer, and his defense and savvy earned him a spot in Chicago's starting lineup. Duhon wants to stay with the Bulls, and Chicago wants to keep him. He figures to get a deal in the range of a typical lottery pick, between $1.5 and $3 million per year. . . .
Fans excited by the Warriors' late-season surge should remember that Golden State not only will have a lottery pick this year but also will have its midlevel exception and the $5.3 million trade exception it got when it dealt F Clifford Robinson to the Nets. That means the Warriors can afford to acquire someone a team is looking to move in a salary dump. . . .
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PF Chris Bosh's state of mind is of long-term concern in Toronto. Bosh is the future of the franchise, but he has been very disappointed with the turmoil the team has undergone this year and lashed out at teammates for quitting while he still is giving it his all. Bosh told reporters, "I know we don't have anything to play for as far as the playoffs. I like to win while we still have a chance, while we still have games left. But it's hard to say if anybody's with me." . . .
Speaking of the Raptors, the sum total of averages put in by F Eric Williams, F/C Aaron Williams and C Alonzo Mourning for the Raptors: 24.6 minutes, 6.3 points and 3.5 rebounds. That's the haul Toronto got from New Jersey for SG Vince Carter. (Mourning never played a minute in Toronto and now is in Miami.) The Raptors must hope the two future first-round picks they got in the deal pan out.