Cavs Won’t Allow Zydrunas Ilgauskas to Play in Olympics

Zydrunas Ilgauskas will not be permitted to play for Lithuania in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, the Cavaliers announced Thursday.

Although the veteran center had made it clear he wanted to compete for his country in the Olympics for the first — and likely only — time in his career, the Cavs think it is just too much of a risk.

"Zydrunas is an important member of our team and has generally been a higher risk player due to his injury history," Cavs General Manager Danny Ferry said Thursday night. [Cleveland Plain Dealer]