Sorry, Hawks: NBA can’t stop Ilgauskas’ return to Cavs
If Zydrunuas Ilgauskas doesn't sign with the Hawks and returns to Cleveland, he's staying within the NBA rules.
Phil Jackson is upset. Doc Rivers is upset. There is a report that NBA commissioner David Stern is upset, and certainly the last thing ANYBODY wants is for a New York attorney with a nice leather desk chair and the name “commissioner” on his business card to be upset.
But I’m just wondering: If, as expected, Zydrunas Ilgauskas has his contract bought out by the Washington Wizards and he re-signs with the Cleveland Cavaliers — the team that just traded him — who really has a right to be upset?
Oh that’s right: Nobody.
The NBA reportedly may attempt to block Ilgauskas’s move back to Cleveland, believing it was a pre-arranged deal. The player’s agent denies that. Personally, I dont think it should matter. He’s got the rulebook on his side and if somebody really wants to continue to live in Cleveland when he has the chance to get out, who are we to rescue him?
I realize this could have a pronounced effect on the Hawks, for two reasons: 1) If Ilgauskas doesn’t return to the Cavaliers, there’s a good chance he’ll sign with the Hawks; 2) And if he does go back, the Cavaliers effectively will have acquired Antawn Jamison before the trade deadline for nothing.
But there’s a rule in place here, folks. Stern can stomp his feet all he likes (and he likes). But the NBA rule basically states that Ilgauskas is free to sign with the Cavaliers 30 days after the Wizards release him. If the league doesn’t like the rule, change it. If Ilgauskas prefers to go back to the team that traded him because he has a better chance to win a title, more power to him.
Instead, we have this from former Hawk Doc Rivers, the Boston coach: I have a problem with that. I loved it three years ago when we did it with Gary Payton [who was traded to the Hawks, released and then returned to Boston]. But now I think it sucks. I think it’s a terrible deal.”
And this from Jackson: “They’re going to get Ilgauskas back and it’s going to be one of those scenarios that we see in the NBA where you ship a player out, you get another player, then your player retires or they pay him off and then he comes back in 30 days. I don’t know what that does for the league. I think that’s kind of a weird situation.”
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65 comments Add your comment
ken
February 22nd, 2010
5:34 pm
Anyone remember Nique Kevin(tiny hands)Willis bickering about the left block. The coach (Fratello) did not know how to handle them. Well josh smith is the self proclaimed point guard who thinks he’s Magic Johnson. He is a charge waiting to happen and woody wont stop him bringing up the bal., He should be tryin to establish position with that big body of his. Maybe Josh is SOFT and want no part of of the big boy area of the court down low.
ken
February 22nd, 2010
5:37 pm
NBA)))))))NO BETTER ALTERNATIVE THAN WOODY, WOW WHAT A TRAVESTY. MISTER FOLDED ARMS. IF THE HAWKS PLAYED OUTSIDE GNATS WOULD FLY IN WOODY’S MOUTH.
ken
February 22nd, 2010
5:44 pm
MIKE BIBBY SHOULD GIVE HALF OF HIS MONEY TO JAMAL. SOMEONE WITH A REAL BASKEBALL HEART. I LOVED HIM WHEN WE WERE IN BROOKLYN. MAYBE THE ATLANTA FANS SHOULD BE LIKE NY FANS SCREAM AT UNDER ACHIEVEMENT. SURE THE KNICKS AND NETS SUCK. BUT YOU BETTER KNOW THAT THE FANS LET THEM KNOW EVERY NIGHT. NOT LIKE HAWK FANS WHO DON’T KNOW WHEN BEATING THE UNDERLINGS IS NOT B-BALL KICK EVERYONE ASS, IS WHAT SHOULD BE DEMANDED. SO WITHOUT THAT THERE IS NO INCENTIVE FORHAWK ORGANIZATION TO DEMAND MORE. FANS GET OFF YOU ASSES AND LET THE KNOW YOU ARE NOT HAPPY UNLESS YOU ARE HAPPY WITH IT . UNTIL STOP TALKING ABOUT CHAMPIONSHIPS. JUST CHUMPIONSHIPS. REGULAR SEASON DECENT RECORD TEAM IS COOL WITH HAWKS FAN IS IT IN LA, BOS, S.A. AND OTHER TOP NOTCH TEAMS. 3RD BEST RECORD IS THIS SOMETHING TO BEAT YOU CHEST ABOUT. TRY YOUR MEAT.
Steve
February 22nd, 2010
6:42 pm
How pathetic is the attendance at Hawks game? Golden State is TERRIBLE and had more there last night then almost any of the Hawks games. The Hawks are 20th in home attendance. Pathetic. Washington, Toronto, Oklahoma City, Golden State, and Portland are all doing better. The Hawks are only averaging 18 people more then the Clippers!
Teddy
February 22nd, 2010
7:55 pm
How could Big Z not want to return to Cleveland? Have you seen their tourism videos?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysmLA5TqbIY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZzgAjjuqZM&NR=1
flagboy?
February 22nd, 2010
8:02 pm
Phil Jackson has a problem with it?
He didn’t seem to have a problem a few years ago when they got Gasol for practically nothing . . . .
ben
February 22nd, 2010
8:12 pm
3 sports are followed in this town.
Colldege footBAWL
NASCAR
Baseball
Period. The end.
Most pro sports just don’t sell in this town.
Big Ray
February 22nd, 2010
8:49 pm
I find it hilarious that Stern is upset with this. Hilariously untrue, that is…
Jeff Teague may be the 8th best pg in his draft class, but talent has little to do with it. It’s disingenuous to suggest such a thing without mentioning how much he gets to play. Of course, that might be inconvenient if you like bashing the kid every chance you get…
Fire Sund
February 22nd, 2010
9:11 pm
He should have got a center already.
Fire Sund
February 22nd, 2010
9:30 pm
Why in the hell is Woodson playing Josh at the center spot? Thats W h o r e f o r d s position!
JSS
February 23rd, 2010
12:03 am
I’m back in the Estadios Unidos! Man did I enjoy Summer in the South Pacific!
Jeff Schultz, I just got back from Wahoo’s with some Fish Tacos! OK, good win in Utah… I told you that Z would most likely end up back in Quicken… The Beat goes on!
Oh, Josh Smith has a good following in New Zealand, I saw 4 #5 jerseys in Auckland!
Sorry, Hawks: NBA can't stop Ilgauskas' return to Cavs | Jeff Schultz | Drakz Free Online Service
February 23rd, 2010
4:36 am
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Ted M
February 23rd, 2010
12:22 pm
From todays paper is sounds like the Hawks or no one else can offer Ilgauskas more then the Cavs.
cdog
February 23rd, 2010
1:02 pm
izzy will come to the hawks, why are you all of the time so negative shultz about the hawks? the way you had it sounding was like it was a done deal which it “s not.the hawks have every chance still to sign him.you sound as though you want the hawks to always lose
steve
February 23rd, 2010
3:57 pm
cdog, there’s no way z doesn’t come back to Cleveland as long as he’s allowed to. I think you can actually offer more money, but I’m not so sure that it really matters….this was on quote and excerpt that Z had right after the trade:
“The Cavaliers players and fans hold a special place in his heart. He tried but found it too hard to watch Thursday’s game against Denver on his television at home.
“This is my team,” he said. “I’m going to be mad, but not so mad that I wouldn’t come back. I understand it’s a business. This is my home. No matter what happens in the future, that will never change.’