"Or maybe 77," Ilgauskas deadpanned Friday. "I lost count already."
That's the 7-foot-3 center's way of saying trade rumors are a daily part of life in the NBA, and why he's shrugging off the newest whispers that Golden State has inquired about swapping unhappy swingman Stephen Jackson for Ilgauskas.
While it's true that the Cavaliers might now almost have a surplus of talented very big men with the off-season acquisition of Shaquille O'Neal, the trade rumor also would violate one of the league's unwritten tenets -- don't trade big for small. So Ilgauskas isn't too worried that anything will come to fruition.
"If it happens, life goes on," Ilgauskas shrugged.
But the possibility of leaving Cleveland did serve as an opportunity for Ilgauskas to reiterate that he wants to finish his career with the Cavaliers -- and there's a chance the 34-year-old might call it quits when his contract expires at the end of this season.
He's not saying it's likely or even probable, and he swears his decision won't be linked to whether LeBron James re-signs with the Cavaliers in the off-season. It's just a possibility.
"I think I still have at least a few good years of basketball left in me," Ilgauskas said. "I would like to [come back]. [But] it gets harder every year, mentally and physically. I'll just decide at the end of the year."
Ilgauskas reminded listeners of his creaky back and delicate feet, which have endured five surgeries, and his newfound status as a father to two young boys adopted over the summer from his hometown in Lithuania. He's older. His seasons last longer now that the Cavaliers annually play deep into the playoffs.
"I just feel the grind more," he said. "You feel it in the middle of February, middle of March, [with] West Coast trips, back-to-backs, over and over and over again. As a younger guy, you were able to come back faster. When you get older, it's not happening. The grind gets tougher and tougher each year. It takes a toll on your body."
However, the Cavaliers' all-time rebounding leader also could experience more rest this season as he backs up O'Neal. It's the first time in Ilgauskas' career that he will come off the bench. That reduced role, combined with Ilgauskas' rare 7-3 height, might prolong his career for several more years.
"You can't teach size," Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said. "[Big guys] are going to be big if they move slow or if they move slower."
For Ilgauskas' part, though, he wants to keep his options open. He's not making any promises either way, just as he knows the Cavaliers aren't making any promises that he'll finish his career in Cleveland. "This is a business," Ilgauskas said.
He knows one thing for sure, though. His new role as father won't play a part in his decision.
"Either [the boys] will come to the games, or we'll watch the games on TV," Ilgauskas said, laughing.
First times: Ilgauskas will experience a couple firsts during today's game against Charlotte in North Charleston, S.C.: His first time away from the 5- and 4-year-old boys he and his wife, Jennifer, adopted over the summer. And, potentially, his first night of good sleep in just as long.
"I have mixed feelings," Ilgauskas said. "I'm looking forward to a little bit more sleep. I just want to make sure everything's OK. But it's a short trip, so I'm sure they'll be fine." Dribbles:Jamario Moon missed practice Friday because he had two wisdom teeth removed, and did not travel with the team. . . . Guard Delonte West remains on an excused leave from the team for personal reasons and did not make the trip. Forward
source: cleveland.com
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment