Zydrunas Ilgauskas didn’t stay retired for long. The 36-year-old Lithuanian center has returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers, this time as a special assistant to general manager Chris Grant.
↵Big Z announced his retirement this summer after 13 years in the NBA. After being a part of the trade that brought Antawn Jamison to the Cavaliers, Ilgauskas was bought out and finished the 2010 season with Cleveland. He then finished his career the next season as a reserve with the Miami Heat.
↵It isn’t known yet what role Ilguaskas will serve as special assistant, but Zydrunas was always a great ambassador for Cleveland, living in the city and making his home there. He has a good basketball mind, and could play a part in scouting and/or recruiting foreign players.
↵For now, I’ll consider it throwing an all-time Cavalier great a bone and hope for more. As long as he isn't in the draft room & making end-all, be-all decisions on personnel, it's a move I can see some merit in making.
↵Welcome back, Z.