NBA / Feb 25, 2010 / 10:00 am
Wizards and Zydrunas Ilgauskas Agree to Buyout (Updated)

By Dime Magazine

Everyone and their mother knew that it was only a matter of time before the Wizards and Big Z came to an agreement to buy out the contract of the center they acquired in the Antawn Jamison trade right before the deadline. It was pretty clear that Washington was only interested in the cap space that was going to be provided by his expiring deal and that he would never see a second in a Wizards uniform.

So what’s next for Z? Everyone is also assuming that he’s a lock to re-sign with the Cavs and Ilgauskas is so eager to get back that ESPN’s Ric Bucher is reporting that Zydrunas has already flown home to Cleveland. There will no doubt be lots of other teams in the mix trying to change Z’s mind (ESPN cites Dallas, Denver, Utah, and Atlanta), and he reportedly will make a decision within the next few days.

For what it’s worth, we kind of want him back in Cleveland so that we can get more of THESE.

UPDATE: Just got an e-mail from Ilgauskas’ agent, Herb Rudoy: “Just finished the buyout.”

TMS wrote:

Pharzeone wrote:Phil Jackson screaming bloody murder and how life is so unfair.

seriously tho i don't think teams should be allowed to sign guys they just traded away & were bought out by the team they traded him to... that seems like tampering to me... a player should not be allowed to re-sign w/the team that just traded him away that same year IMO.

I agree with TMS on this. It's ridiculous.

Pharzeone wrote:Phil Jackson screaming bloody murder and how life is so unfair.

Then he consoles his twelve rings.

Pharzeone wrote:

TMS wrote:

Pharzeone wrote:Phil Jackson screaming bloody murder and how life is so unfair.

seriously tho i don't think teams should be allowed to sign guys they just traded away & were bought out by the team they traded him to... that seems like tampering to me... a player should not be allowed to re-sign w/the team that just traded him away that same year IMO.

I agree but his team has done the same thing. If the Knicks or Wizards pull the same stunt, he could care less. This is just as bad as Pop going nuts over the Gasol trade.

i disagree... at least MEM gave up real assets to land Gasol... Marc Gasol is a very good player & they gained tremendous cap space along w/2 future picks & Javaris Crittenton i believe it was... Big Z was traded for strictly for cap space & now the Wiz released him so he could sign back w/his old team? that's just BS if u ask me... NBA shouldn't allow that stuff to go down.

TMS wrote:

Pharzeone wrote:

TMS wrote:

Pharzeone wrote:Phil Jackson screaming bloody murder and how life is so unfair.

seriously tho i don't think teams should be allowed to sign guys they just traded away & were bought out by the team they traded him to... that seems like tampering to me... a player should not be allowed to re-sign w/the team that just traded him away that same year IMO.

I agree but his team has done the same thing. If the Knicks or Wizards pull the same stunt, he could care less. This is just as bad as Pop going nuts over the Gasol trade.

i disagree... at least MEM gave up real assets to land Gasol... Marc Gasol is a very good player & they gained tremendous cap space along w/2 future picks & Javaris Crittenton i believe it was... Big Z was traded for strictly for cap space & now the Wiz released him so he could sign back w/his old team? that's just BS if u ask me... NBA shouldn't allow that stuff to go down.

Yep. I'm hoping the new CBA includes something about this. This type of stuff is pathetic and really ruining the credibility of the league. You're trading a guy knowing that he will come back to you in 30 days no matter what. So essentially you're trading nothing for a good player. It's very cheap to me.