Jul 12, 2005, 17:36 GMT
Los Angeles - The Cleveland Cavaliers will have their man in the middle back after free agent centre Zydrunas Ilgauskas agreed to a five-year deal worth between 55 and 60 million dollars, local media Tuesday.
Ilgauskas will re-sign on July 22 when the moratorium on free agent signings is lifted.
"Z intends to sign back with Cleveland," Ilgauskas' agent Herb Rudoy told the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper. "Z is thrilled with the idea of coming back."
Ilgauskas averaged 16.9 points and 8.6 rebounds in 78 games last season and was named to the Eastern Conference All-Star squad for the second time in the last three years.
The Lithuanian native is the second marquee free agent to come to terms with the Cavaliers in the last week after Washington Wizards guard Larry Hughes told the club he will ink a five-year deal worth between 65 and 70 million dollars.
Cavaliers guard Ira Newble said the recent deals prove the organisation is serious about surrounding LeBron James with a core group of talented players who are serious about winning.
"These are signs that we're trying to win, and the owners said they would do whatever it takes to win," Newble said. "The two decisions that were made were moves in the right direction."
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