MIAMI (AP) — Heat center Zydrunas Ilgauskas is exercising his $1.4 million option with Miami for next season.
Ilgauskas started 51 games in the regular season for Miami, averaging 5.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 15.9 minutes — all career lows. He appeared in Miami’s first nine playoff games, starting eight of them, then didn’t appear in the final 12 Heat postseason contests.
He was the No. 20 overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1996 draft, and after dealing with foot problems early in his career has logged at least 60 games in each of the last 10 seasons.
The Heat are still awaiting decisions from James Jones and Eddie House on their player options for 2011-12.
