Going after Ilgauskas would be right move for Hawks
The 7-foot-3 Zydrunas Ilgauskas would give the Hawks a needed presence in the paint in the playoffs. (AP photo)
We can speculate at length about how Josh Smith and Al Horford are young and Joe Johnson will re-sign after this season and the Hawks likely will be a playoff team for sometime.
But really, we don’t know. Teams sometimes have a limited window to win. That’s why the Hawks are going after former Cleveland center Zydrunas Ilgauskas now. Smart move.
According to our Michael Cunningham, the Washington Wizards, who acquired Ilgauskas from Cleveland Wednesday as part of the six-player, three-team trade with the Los Angeles Clippers, are likely to buy out the remainder of the 7-foot-3 center’s contract. (They’re rebuilding and only were interested in his expiring contract.) That would allow Ilgauskas to sign as a free agent with any team, and at least four teams appear to be in the mix: Cleveland (which wants him back and would have to be considered the favorite), the Hawks, Dallas and possibly Denver.
Ilgauskas would need to be released before March 1 to be eligible for the playoffs.
Ilgauskas was a career NBA starter until this season, when the Cavaliers got a guy named Shaquille O’Neal. But he’s averaging just under 14 points, eight rebounds and two blocks in his career, and he has played in 64 playoff games and two All-Star Games.
Even if Ilgauskas didn’t start for the Hawks, the move would allow them to bring him off the bench in the postseason and shift Al Horford to power forward and Josh Smith to small forward (with Marvin Williams going to the bench), giving them a potent front line. The Cavaliers beefed up for the playoffs Wednesday when it acquired Antawn Jamison from the Wizards.
The Cavaliers and Orlando are clearly the two best teams in the Eastern Conference. But acquiring Ilgauskas would at least strengthen the Hawks’ post-season chances for a second-round upset.
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128 comments Add your comment
Jeff Schultz
February 18th, 2010
5:39 pm
Holman — Just call him Iggy. Or Ilgy?
Jeff Schultz
February 18th, 2010
5:41 pm
Dogfighter — Just what we need: a Lithauania vs. Georgia debate between Ilgauskas and Pachulia.
Jeff Schultz
February 18th, 2010
5:42 pm
Astro Joe — It’s my understanding the 14th player thing has been approved if they can get Ilgauskas.
BRUCE LEVINSON
February 18th, 2010
5:47 pm
I wish “Falcons Sorry” would interject a Mike Vick comment into this boring blog.
todd grantham
February 18th, 2010
5:48 pm
Jeff, does basketball still have the 10 day contracts for players?
scott
February 18th, 2010
5:48 pm
Barrington they arent making moves because they have no money to pay anyone. we need a big body like his to go anywhere in the playoffs
Barrington
February 18th, 2010
5:50 pm
@Tucker T,
I agree with you. If Z signs back with the Cavs, it would be shady. Plus,if I was him, I wouldn’t go back. First, you bring in Shaq to take my job and next, you trade me? It would be great if Z could sign with us and laugh at the Cavs if we beat them in the playoffs. I’m dreaming!
Rufus1
February 18th, 2010
5:51 pm
The Difference
The Hawks would be better if we got Z. We Are closer to those teams most people want to admit. The Magic are the only team we have been unable to compete with this season. He would provide depth, Size, rebounding and a low post presence. He would receive the most playing time with the Hawks and would provide the most impact with the Hawks. He has to determine if he wants to ride the pine to a championship or be the guy that puts a team over the top
AtlSouthside
February 18th, 2010
5:55 pm
WE NEED A 7FT CENTER!!!! What’s taking so long for mgt to “pull the trigger”?
Barrington
February 18th, 2010
5:57 pm
Scott, you are right. He would have to be released then signed as free agent. Marvin Williams and Bibby should pay back a portion of this year’s salary to sign Z and bring him & Crawford off the bench!
"Chef" Tim Dix
February 18th, 2010
6:01 pm
Hawks better off signing Schultzy to a 10 day contract. Interested?
Stone
February 18th, 2010
6:18 pm
I would love to see him come to ATL…he has a much better jump shot thans Josh Smith
Jeff Schultz
February 18th, 2010
6:29 pm
Todd Grantham — Yep. I think I need to come up with my list of 10 coolest things in pro sports. That’s one of them.
TheAntiMe
February 18th, 2010
6:30 pm
I would like to see it but it looks like a no go. Inside sources say that Ilgauskus absolutely refuses to play for a coach who has no eyebrows. You have to admire a player with such strong principles.
Jeff Schultz
February 18th, 2010
6:30 pm
“Chef” — Clear the lane. I got me some elbows.
Jeff Schultz
February 18th, 2010
6:31 pm
The AntiMe — You made me laugh out loud with that one.
kjb
February 18th, 2010
6:35 pm
Do we have a chance at a bigtime free agent other than j.j.?
mario scandrett
February 18th, 2010
6:47 pm
hell yeah bring big Z in…this makes us a major competitor for the championship….
byDawg
February 18th, 2010
6:57 pm
Do folks really think ZI would come off the bench if he signed here? I think our starters 1-5 would be Josh and Al, ZI, Joe and Mike – with a stronger bench by adding Marvin to it. Marvin is expendable iyam for future needs.
nique
February 18th, 2010
7:04 pm
how would salaries work if z re-signed with the cavs? how much could they possibly sign him for? how much could we sign him for?
mrHonline
February 18th, 2010
7:09 pm
Jeff,
The Hawks can offer up to $3M more than the Cavs to nab Ilgauskas. Any chance the Spirit would be willing to commit up to $4.5M to get him?
bigjase
February 18th, 2010
7:14 pm
lets go get Z!!!!!!!!!!!
Jeff Schultz
February 18th, 2010
7:23 pm
KJB — You mean like LeBron or Bosh or Wade?
cavsin2010
February 18th, 2010
7:23 pm
You can all forget your silly dreams of a championship or Z. He’ll be wearing a ring with the Cavs at the end of the year when the your precious Hawks have been home for weeks. Just lay back and watch the 2010 Champs do their thing.
Jeff Schultz
February 18th, 2010
7:25 pm
MrHonLine – I’m sure they’ve approved going after him but don’t know how high they’ve authorized.
Jeff Schultz
February 18th, 2010
7:26 pm
Cavsin2010 — I was waiting for them to do their thing last year and they got smacked by Orlando. But maybe this year will be different.
Neda
February 18th, 2010
7:29 pm
“Zydrunas Ilgauskas.” Say that three times fast!
Announcers will be getting terminally tongue-tied.
Stirg d'Nahsif
February 18th, 2010
7:46 pm
Earlier this year, I suggested that we go after Joakim Noah (start Bibby, JJ, Josh, Horford & Noah). With Iggy signing, the effect would still be the same (Bibby, JJ, Smoove, Horford & Iggy). The beauty of that lineup is the bench (Teague, Crossover Crawford, Williams, Smith & ZaZa).
athdog
February 18th, 2010
7:48 pm
The Hawks would most definitely be a better team with Z in the post, then Al and Smoove at three and four (interchangeable, really) JJ at two and Bibby at point. Even better with Chris Paul or Deron Williams at point, but that’s another story…Marvin didn’t start in college, and I don’t really think he’s going to be any more than he is now. It’d be great if they could move him and end up with a big man…
cavsin2010
February 18th, 2010
7:49 pm
Jeff Schultz-
Great point…but if we’re dragging last year into this, why would Z come to a team who he helped sweep out of the playoffs in 08-09 then beat twice this year already? Not such a great way to wind the ol’ career down, don’t you think?
Hawkman
February 18th, 2010
8:03 pm
Any chance we do a sign and trade with JJ in the off season? Hawks aren’t built to win a Championship as currently constructed.
Willie Coyote
February 18th, 2010
8:13 pm
I’d prefer Troy Murphy. Alas, he isn’t available.
Gravy Train
February 18th, 2010
8:21 pm
Doesn’t matter where Z goes or who the Cavs get, there’s only one ball and you know who will shoot it the most.
Phil and Kobe are still in L.A.
The Mamba is the best thing going in the NBA
The difference between Kobe and Lebron is best illustrated at the charity stripe and beyond.
Hawkdafied Chick
February 18th, 2010
8:22 pm
Nope!
Hawkman
February 18th, 2010
8:28 pm
No championship in these Hawks future…sad to say!
Commissioner Stern
February 18th, 2010
8:46 pm
NBA Rules Explained:
1. The 30 Day Rule is designed so that the league can stack certain teams for the playoffs. Research shows that TV ratings are higher when star players, like Lebron, participate in multiple rounds of the playoffs and finals. The team concept is nice for high school and college basketball, but in the NBA it’s all about creating TV stars. To insure that our star players aren’t left sitting at home during the playoffs, we want to make sure teams like Cleveland aren’t burdened by things like the salary cap and other roster rules. The 30 Day Rule gives our most favored teams the chance to add additional star players and test drive them for a month without actually giving up one of their existing players.
2. The Two Basketball Rule – In the event that one team is able to add enough star players that it becomes difficult for all of those players to take their customary number of shots, that team may elect to play with two basketballs while on offense. The favored team will be considered to be on offense until the defending team is able to take posession of both basketballs, and all points scored by the favored team while in posession of either basketball will count. The defending team may not score points until it has taken posession of both basketballs, at which point they must discard one of the basketballs before transitioning to offense.
3. Transition Period – The 30 Day Rule and The Two Basketball Rule are designed to work together. The 30 Day Rule gives teams a period of time to determine if the Two Basketball Rule will be necessary. Cleveland is now in the Transition Period. At the end of the Transation Period the Cavs must decide if they want to add more players, more basketballs, or both.
Frank Wren
February 18th, 2010
9:03 pm
Good stuff
kjb
February 18th, 2010
10:06 pm
Yes Jeff, I mean players like that (LeBron DWade CBosh & so on) this summer…for me the Hawks need a decent center & a real point guard, so Al can play the 4 & Jsmooth play the 3 then if we can’t pick up JJ this summer, sign or try to trade for someone similar. I’ll package MBibby, MWilliams, JTeague for someone we need & go get another scorer coming off the bench with Jamal,then on draft day get what we really need when it’s our time to pick & I really believe if the Hawks do these things this summer they would make some serious noise next year!!! Build the team around Al & Josh & I seriously see some champions in the future!!! What you think about that Jeff S.?
blonju
February 18th, 2010
10:27 pm
Big Z would definitely help us but i would keep the lineup exactly how it is… it’s amazing to me how negative most hawks fans are… this team is built more effeciently than larry brown’s DET team that won in 2004 – only thing is, our competition is much tougher in 2010… still, this is not to say the hawks don’t have a chance… it sounds like there are a bunch of cavs fans on this blog… denver is about to beat cleveland tonite… the hawks have beaten the same denver team by 25 this season… anything can happen in the NBA despite the constant political shadiness that david stern loves to perpetuate (and then deny publicly)… Big Z is not a difference maker, but he’d be a GIANT help down low for postseason purposes… Remember HAWKS FANS, we have 6 guys who can go for 20 on any given night… the CAVS have 3… let’s not give them the title just yet…
kjb
February 18th, 2010
10:31 pm
Also Jeff ,how do you think this summer will go for the hawks?, just your opinion.
Seldin
February 18th, 2010
11:45 pm
getttttt zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Jon Koncak
February 18th, 2010
11:55 pm
7′-3″ would definetley help in the middle. Al would be a MONSTER at PF. We should make a VERY strong push.He would get more money, more playing time and MUCH better city. I would put as much on the table as possible. Remind him they just brought Shaq in to take his position AND just traded him.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brooking's Dad
February 19th, 2010
3:17 am
Enter your comments here
Keith Brooking's Dad
February 19th, 2010
3:19 am
Truth-Serum
February 18th, 2010
4:04 pm
Al would be a better small forward than Josh, Josh is a true power forward and one of the best in the game. We could trade Horford and increase our bench strength.
ABSOLUTELY THE DUMBEST THING I’VE EVER HEARD, EVEN FROM THIS IDIOT.
Keith Brooking's Dad
February 19th, 2010
3:20 am
Schultz Do Your Homework = niremetal
Truth-Serum
February 19th, 2010
5:40 am
Keith Brooking’s Dad, Flattery wont get you any where with me…. Im try to win. I know you like losing and are a loser, hence you hide with a false moniker. Clearly Josh is a better power forward than Al, and which means if one of them has to move to SF, I think that would better suit Al than Josh, but rather than stock pile power forwards lets see what we can get on the open market for the #18 shot blocking center in the NBA. I’ll bet his value is high right now so let take advantage of it and build a championship team.
Let me encourage you to get a grip on yourself emotionally. If you need help, seek it. It not normal to call rational people idiots.
Have a nice day and good luck to you.
Truth-Serum
February 19th, 2010
5:40 am
*trying
Truth-Serum
February 19th, 2010
5:45 am
*its
iReapATL
February 19th, 2010
6:04 am
al at pf?……….looooool…..sorry but you cant be serious, while smoove may be a pf NOW, but hoford is A TRUE pf. the best thing would be for smoove to move down to sf. i laugh imagining horford matched up with the lebrons, grangers,, melos, and durants of the league. Jsmoove woould def be much more effective than marvin @sf, well atleast for now cause marvin barley hits his shots anyway, he wants to drive with his uncordinated footwork and dribbles to get called for a charge or turnover. and the way smoove has been shooting the 15-17 footer recently, i for sure wouldnt mind a shift if we can sign a center.
Marcus
February 19th, 2010
6:09 am
hmmm……….not real sure of Cavs depth chart, but if they have a chance at composing a team w/Jamison at the 4, Shaq at the 5 as starters and bring Big Z and Varejo (sp?) off the bench . not to mention a scrub named Lebron at the 3 … eek!
No way Big Z rolls to the land of peach cobbler and Varsity chili dogs.
Don’t wanna crown dey azzes yet, but I see a blacksmith hammering out some gold headgear in their future.