Knicks eye Ilgauskas

Cavs asking about Kurt

BY FRANK ISOLA.
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER


Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cleveland's 7-2 center, has been subject of trade talks between Knicks and Cavs.

Call it the Shaquille O'Neal trickle-down effect. With O'Neal close to being traded to the Miami Heat, Isiah Thomas could have an opportunity to add an All-Star center of his own.
The Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers have held preliminary talks about a deal for 7-2 Zydrunas Ilgauskas, according to a league source. Cleveland initiated the conversations and has expressed interest in power forward Kurt Thomas after the Cavs were burned by Carlos Boozer, the restricted free agent who verbally agreed on a deal to re-sign with Cleveland but instead signed an offer sheet with the Utah Jazz.

The Knicks would have to include at least one more player, perhaps Dikembe Mutombo or Nazr Mohammed, in the trade to satisfy the salary cap rules. The Knicks have an abundance of power forwards to trade and are confident that Michael Sweetney, last year's No. 1 pick, is ready to be a full-time player - if not a starter.

Thomas, who revamped nearly half the roster after taking over as team president last December, is still in talks with the Chicago Bulls about a deal for restricted free-agent guard Jamal Crawford.

Chicago GM John Paxson is debating several packages presented by the Knicks. A potential snag is Paxson's insistence that the Knicks take Eddie Robinson and Jerome Williams in the trade.

For the Knicks to assume the contracts of both Robinson and Williams, they want Chicago to take Moochie Norris off their hands rather than Frank Williams. Paxson, though, has little interest in Norris.

It is unclear if the Knicks would pursue a trade for Ilgauskas if they are unable to pull off a trade with the Bulls. Thomas wants to add more scoring and is in ongoing talks with the Dallas Mavericks regarding power forward Antoine Walker. A deal for Walker would have to include Kurt Thomas, the former Mavs player who is a favorite of team owner Mark Cuban.

Ilgauskas is arguably the best center in the Eastern Conference - at least until Shaq arrives - and would significantly upgrade the Knicks' front line. Ilgauskas has averaged 14 points and eight rebounds in six seasons. He has also missed two full years with foot problems but has enjoyed two straight healthy seasons.

The 29-year-old Ilgauskas would give the Knicks a formidable low post scoring threat who would excel in the pick-and-roll game with Stephon Marbury. Any deal for Ilgauskas could take weeks to finalize because Cleveland still has a chance, albeit a small one, to match the offer for Boozer.

Originally published on July 12, 2004


Big Z would be a good pickup. A legit 7-2 post option. I'd much rather have him than Walker.

That is good news my friend.

could we somehow parle this into a 3 team deal and send Z to portland and we get ratliff in return?

i like Z but he is a little on the unathletic side and if sweets starts, we need someone to be athletic and defensive minded behind him. Z is a decent center but i'd rather have ratliff.

Posted by s3231:

This is very good news, if we can get Big Z for the deals that he mentioned (Kurt and Nazr/Dikembe), that would be huge. I would then feel a lot more comfortable starting Sweetney when you have a big center like that in the starting lineup.

Yeah Z really started playing well when he was teamed up with Boozer (who plays like sweetney) in the front court

This sounds too good to be true. Didn't know Z was an ending contract. That obviously lowers the injury risk. Also, if he somehow just doesn't fit, would think he'd be easy to trade again come deadline. If we can keep Nazr, then use him, Z, Sweets, and JYD as our C PF rotation (maybe throw in Vin too), w/ minutes depending on health, who's playing well and match-ups, think we'd be a hell of a lot m ore solid up front than we were last year. And if we add Crawford and Houston comes back, then we're a lot stronger at the guard spots too. IMO, if we take Robinson, drop Shandone and Ariza makes the team over DerMarr, we're better at the 3 spot too.

Would this team compete w/ Detroit and Indianna? w/ Miami w/ Shaq. Not sure, but on paper I think it could.

Yeah I think Illwhiteboy would be a great Knick.
It's a trade the Knicks must make.

Ill played in an offense that forgot about him game to game sometimes quarter to quarter......Ill would just be wicked in NY with Houston, Marbs, Timmy, Sweets....wow man that would be awesome....

It's not like the Knicks run an athletic offense. You gotta give Marbs options. This team would be really talented offensively because on any given possesion someone will score.

I think Trevor Ariza has killed my infatuation with Jamal Crawford.

If Cleveland offered Ill....you gotta make the trade. Screw Chicago in my opinion....they want to lose Eddie and JYD? Nah man....Eddie and Crawford means Ariza gets screwed. Forget that.

If it's true.....Make the Illgausgus trade pronto.

Lol, I wonder what is going on with Rasheed, I totally forgot about him, anyone think we still have a shot at him? Sheed is most likely the reason Isiah hasn't offered the MLE to anyone.

[Edited by - s3231 on 07/12/2004 12:18:20]

Posted by TMS:

Sheed? again, why would he sign w/NY when he can make double staying in DET? Isiah can't realistically be holding out for him.

I hope Isiah isn't holding out for him. But I'm just a lil suprised that Detroit hasn't reached a deal with Sheed yet.

Posted by LongIslandKnicksFan:

Posted by s3231:

Posted by TMS:

Sheed? again, why would he sign w/NY when he can make double staying in DET? Isiah can't realistically be holding out for him.

Remember. it's up to his family to decide.








I hope Isiah isn't holding out for him. But I'm just a lil suprised that Detroit hasn't reached a deal with Sheed yet.

Exactly, I still think we have a shot at him because NY is a more attractive place to live than Detroit. Who knows, maybe something is going on that we don't know about.

Posted by EnySpree:

Posted by s3231:

Lol, I wonder what is going on with Rasheed, I totally forgot about him, anyone think we still have a shot at him? Sheed is most likely the reason Isiah hasn't offered the MLE to anyone.

[Edited by - s3231 on 07/12/2004 12:18:20]

Sheed needs to stay with Detroit. The Knicks have bigger fish to fry. I want Detroit to get better. I want to beat Detroit. Taking away from that team would spoil possibly winning the championship next year.

Dog....
Illgausgus, Crawford, Stromile, Ariza all in one off-season?

Forget Rasheed.....Isiah is on a mission.

i dont wanna get ur hopes up about ariza, but every player is 10x better in summer league than in nba.

Posted by timmyTtop:


i dont wanna get ur hopes up about ariza, but every player is 10x better in summer league than in nba.

So are some of these Euro's in the Euroleague.

You can't deny skill.

If you saw the games then you got to be kidding yourself.

Barrett was garbage to me.....Ariza was the best dude on the floor.

How can you not get excited about Ariza? I can't help it.