Cleveland Cavaliers rumors: Maccabi Tel Aviv courting Ante Zizic
In Cleveland Cavaliers rumors, center Ante Zizic may take a lucrative pay day out of the NBA when his contract expires with the Cavs.
Ante Zizic is among of a handful of players on the Cleveland Cavaliers who won’t be wearing the Wine and Gold next season.
Maccabi Tel Aviv, of the Israeli League, is rumored to be heavily courting Cleveland’s big man, who’s contract runs out at the end of the 2020 campaign. This nugget comes from SI.com’s Sam Amico.
Zizic is making $2.2 million next season. He’s not likely to be back on the Cavaliers, a squad that is one of the worst teams in the NBA, so you’ve got to wonder if there’s any other interest out there from NBA clubs.
Zizic was a throw-in in the Kyrie Irving trade during the summer of 2017, which sent the owner of the biggest shot in Cleveland sports history to the Celtics for Jae Crowder, Isaiah Thomas, Zicic and “The Brooklyn Pick.”
Zizic impressed in his limited early time with the Cavaliers, finding a way to score. While averaging just over six minutes per game, Zizic averaged 73 percent from the field attemping to two shots per game.
It turns out, that Zizic wasn’t a Unicorn. Rather, he’s a big man who can’t shoot 3’s, making him a dinosaur in today’s NBA. With Andre Drummond almost assuredly going to pick up his $26 million option next season, it just makes no sense to have two big men who can’t produce from the perimeter.
Macabbi Tel Aviv has long been one of overseas power, and this organization will probably be a good fit for Zizic. They’ll also likely pay Zizic a salary similar to what he’s makign now.
Fans may remember the name Omri Casspi, who played for the Cavaliers from 2011-2013. To give you an idea of what players make on Maccabi, last August, Casspi signed a three-year, $3.2 million contract to play in Tel Aviv.
In 22 games this season, Zizic averaged 4.0 points per game, in addition to grabbing 2.2 boards per night.
Next. More mocks have Obi Toppin to the Cavs. dark
Zizic, 23, was the 23rd overall pick in the 2016 draft and is a native of Croatia.