INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Darnell Jackson and Danny Green are looking forward to the expected return of Zydrunas Ilgauskas, but one might not be here when he gets back.
If the Cavs bring back Ilgauskas on or shortly after March 22, the first date they can negotiate with him, they are going to have to make a roster move. Jackson, a 6-foot-9, 253-pound power forward from Kansas, or Green, a 6-6 210-pound rookie point guard from North Carolina, are the likely candidates to go, because neither has guaranteed money for next season.
They both insist they’re not worrying about that right now and are continuing to do whatever it is the team needs.
Danny Green has had brief moments of success during his rookie season, but isn’t stressing about his status. “All I can do is control what I do, and I’m going to continue to do that — keep playing, keep getting better, keep proving to these guys that I can play and I belong,” he said. “That’s all I can do right now.”“It’s not hard at all,” said Jackson, who has played in 26 games but is averaging less than a point and a rebound in 4.2 minutes per game. “This is my job. I’m a professional. I have to know when I get on the court, I have to do what I do. I’m a professional athlete. I have to be ready.
“I’m not worrying about it at all. It’s going to be exciting seeing Z come back.”
Green says nothing has changed. His playing time has been sporadic, not unusual for a rookie playing for coach Mike Brown. He is averaging 2.4 points in playing just 16 games.
“We have a lot of veterans on this team, and they’ve been here, they’ve put their time in, they put their work in,” Green said. “I’m just trying to fit in. I’ve learned a lot from these guys, working hard every day, trying to get better every day. That’s the goal for me. I feel like I’m doing a decent job adjusting.
“I can’t change my approach. A lot of stuff is out of my control. I can’t worry about the stuff that I can’t control. All I can do is control what I do, and I’m going to continue to do that — keep playing, keep getting better, keep proving to these guys that I can play and I belong. That’s all I can do right now.”
Each player had a short and successful stint with the Erie BayHawks, the Cavs’ affiliate in the NBA’s D-League. Jackson had 34 points and 12 rebounds in his one game; Green averaged 25.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in two games.
The question will be whether the team elects to keeps an extra big man or a spare guard.
Brown, who used both players against the Bucks on Saturday, is pleased with their continued effort and enthusiasm.
“They know that their number could be called at any time, so they just keep themselves ready,” the coach said. “I went to Darnell in the Milwaukee game, and it wasn’t until the last second that I decided to go to him. I went to Danny in the Milwaukee game, and it wasn’t until the last second that I decided to go to him.
“So with the injuries and people out, being in their shoes, they just have to stay ready. They have to stay ready because their number could be called at any time, and both those guys have done a nice job with that.”
Light day: Antawn Jamison and LeBron James headlined a group of Cavs who did not practice on Wednesday. Mo Williams, Anderson Varejao and Anthony Parker also did not practice with a variety of injuries. Shaquille O’Neal continues to rehab his right thumb out of town.
While James is expected to play on Friday, Jamison is listed as day-to-day with stiffness in his left knee that forced him out of Monday’s game against San Antonio. He said he has a cyst in the knee that fills with fluid periodically. While he’s not sure about Friday’s game at Philadelphia, he said he would play Sunday when Boston visits.
“It’s something that occurred earlier in the season,” Jamison said of the cyst. “With proper treatment, it went away. So I don’t see this lingering any longer than it has the last couple of days.”
He said surgery would not be necessary.
“I know my body,” he said. “My mechanics, the way I run, contributed to this. We addressed that. There are certain things I have to do before and after to maintain. I’m not a young buck any more.”
Furthermore, Jamison said, having three days off this week aided his recovery.
“It’s perfect timing for something like this to happen now,” he said. “This organization is looking at the overall picture to make sure guys are healthy when it counts.”
Brown has not decided yet who would start if Jamison can’t play at Philadephia.
“There’s plenty of guys I could go to if Antawn doesn’t play,” Brown said, mentioning Jackson and Leon Powe. The coach said he’d like to continue to bring Varejao off the bench
