Nuggets Coach Karl Hasn't Given Up on Ilgauskas

LOS ANGELES -- Everybody knows center Zydrunas Ilgauskas will be returning to Cleveland. Well, apparently everybody but Denver coach George Karl.

Karl said before Sunday's game against the Lakers at the Staples Center he talked to Ilgauskas earlier that morning.

"I'm not giving up on that,'' Karl said. "I got a phone call into Big Z at 9 o'clock (Sunday). I did talk to him (Sunday).''

So is Ilgauskas interested in the Nuggets?

"It was on a bus so we didn't make it clear,'' Karl said. "But we did have a conversation for later (Sunday) afternoon.''

Karl, who can't drink during his ongoing treatment for a form of throat cancer, added, "I think he should come out to Denver and hang out. I'll drink beer with him.''

Ilgauskas, who was traded from Cleveland to Washington on Feb. 17 and then had his contract bought out, is expected to re-sign with the Cavaliers around March 20, when the NBA-required 30-day period runs out before a traded player can return to his former team. But it's no surprise Ilgauskas is continuing to field calls from other teams because his camp does not want it to be thought there was any sort a prearranged deal for Ilgauskas to return.

Michael Reghi, a former Cavaliers broadcaster, reported on Cleveland's WKNR-AM 850 on Friday that Ilgauskas has made up his mind to return to the Cavaliers.

The Nuggets are searching for another big man to help during their playoff run. One possibly could end up being free-agent center Mikki Moore, who is due to be healthy in mid-March after having December surgery to repair a right heel spur.

At least the Nuggets on Sunday were able to get back starting power forward Kenyon Martin after he missed Friday's game against Detroit due to a left knee contusion. Martin banged knees with Golden State guard Monta Ellis on Thursday.

"He's going to go,'' Karl said before the Lakers game. "He's going to try. Hopefully, he can give us 35 good minutes.''

The Nuggets, though, did lose backup point guard Ty Lawson for the remainder of Sunday's game due to a left shoulder contusion suffered in the second quarter. He's listed as day-to-day.