Veteran Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas will join LeBron James in Miami, agent says

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Another veteran member of the Cleveland Cavaliers has been lured to the Miami Heat.

Center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who started playing for Cleveland in 1997 and has never suited up for another NBA team, expects to sign a two-year deal with the Heat later this week, according to agent Herb Rudoy.

‘We’ve agreed to agree,’ Rudoy said Tuesday. He added that the deal would come with a player option for the second season.

Ilgauskas will join former teammate LeBron James, who announced Thursday he would become a member of the Heat after seven years with the Cavaliers.

Other recent or expected signees in Miami include Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller, who agreed to a deal late last week that remains unsigned.

Ilgauskas is the Cavs’ career leader in games played, blocked shots and rebounds. He was immensely popular in Cleveland, and expects to keep a home there.

‘It’s hard,’ Rudoy said. ‘It’s been 14 years. It was very hard for him. I know that. When he called [Cavaliers General Manager] Chris Grant and [Cavaliers owner] Dan Gilbert today, it was definitely a hard decision at this stage of his career. But he wants to win a championship. That’s how he made this decision.’

No word on Gilbert’s reaction to another of his players bolting to Miami. At least he got a personal phone call this time around.

-- Chuck Schilken

The Associated Press contributed to this report.