Has Z reached his end?

• devil1197

  The big guy has had 3 out of the last four games without making a FG. He seems two steps slower and to me has dropped off a lot since last season.
  
  Do you guys think he will get traded coming up, especially with West being iffy?
  
  Buyout and return?
• chicago510

  

  He looks depressed.
  
  I think the whole Shaq think messed him up.
  
  Plus he's old and his feet are like 4504835034 years old with all the surgeries.
• killdeer

  

  no doubt that Shaq accomplished against D.Howard last night what Z could not last year...Ilgauskas's ability to play from the perimeter may keep him in the game...in any case...the Cavs look good, and it's been a nice run for Z.
• devil1197

  Z isn't mad or depressed about the Shaq situation. The Cavs FO had several meetings with Z being going through with the trade.
  
  Z is still getting solid minutes, 20+ a night which even without Shaq would be the most that I think he could handle right now.
  
  His contract is attractive, very tradable.
• Footwedge

  ZZZ..over the hill...sad.
• Fly4Fun

  

  I feel bad for the guy. I really want him to be able to pull it together and become a more productive player so he's more than a trading piece.
• devil1197

  He just doesn't have it like Shaq does (who is starting to look very good down low). With JJ playing the way he has, he could take minutes from AV which would allow AV to play some 5 if Cleveland needed him to.
  
  I think this is all based on what happens with West. If Delonte doesn't get his shit together, then Cleveland will have to make a move for a replacement.
• sleeper

  

  He's old, I love the guy but he's done. I'd like to keep him, but at the same time Cleveland winning a championship is more important than Z and you can take that to the bank.
• ytownfootball

  

  He comes off the bench instead of starting, so he's cold, but he never was a quick guy.
  
  My biggest concern the last couple of seasons is he can't hold the ball underneath, he always gets it smoked out of his hands. His points are down, his rebounds are down, his minutes are down. Actually for the time played he's OK, but his shot percentage is like 30%, way down from his average of near 50%. He'll adjust.
• hoops23

  

  I'd love to see a trade for Z bringing in a another 2 guard then Z being bought out and re-signing him...
  
  Win - win imo..
• devil1197

  Z coming off the bench shouldn't affect his shooting this poorly, he has been dreadful.
  
  Yes, a trade and buyout would be the best scenario for Cleveland.
• hoops23

  

  It shouldn't affect his shooting, but I've seen it before where people coming off the bench haven't had it the way they would as a starter... I've also seen it work the other way.
  
  Z has been accustomed to starting and playing with the same guys. Now, he's coming off with the 2nd unit and there will be an adjustment period. It shouldn't affect his shot, but half of making a shot is the mental aspect and I don't know if he's completely comfortable off the bench yet.
  
  The great thing is, if he doesn't get it together, his contract is very attractive for a team looking to clear cap space.
• j_crazy

  

  i have no use for a 7'3" wing man who has ankles like an old woman. the end can't come soon enough.
• YSUGOLF

  Z is a career cavalier and will go down as one of the greats in cavalier history. He is now a useful role player. He will be most useful to this current team when he will will be traded later this season. He should not feel bad about this season since the Cav's stuck by him and paid him a lot of money when he was injured earlier in his career.
• jpake1

  

  He looked done at the end of last year. A lot of people thought before the season began that Cleveland had a great combo at C. I just don't see it. Shaq is still quite solid, but Z looks bad. They need to use him as a trading chip.
• sportchampps

  He has pretty much said this is his last year and then he will walk away because of his body. He was/is a great team player for the CAVS. IF Z and Shaq retire what do the CAVS do for a big man next year?
• dave

  sportchampps wrote: He has pretty much said this is his last year and then he will walk away because of his body. He was/is a great team player for the CAVS. IF Z and Shaq retire what do the CAVS do for a big man next year?

  even if they don't retire, they don't have a future with the cavs. they will spend the 30ish million on one of the free agent big men out there.