The Cavaliers have exercised their third-year option on center Ante Zizic, a source tells Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. The team had until October 31 to pick up the option, which guarantees Zizic’s salary for the 2019/20 season.
Zizic, 21, was one of the players acquired by Cleveland in last year’s Kyrie Irving blockbuster. The Croatian big man didn’t see much action in his rookie season, but could be in line for a larger role in 2018/19, particularly if the Cavaliers go into full-fledged rebuild mode. So far this season, Zizic has posted 3.4 PPG and 2.0 RPG in five games (7.2 MPG).
With veteran players occupying many of the roster spots in Cleveland, Zizic’s was the only rookie scale option decision the Cavs had to make by this fall’s deadline. The move will add another $2,281,800 in guaranteed money to the club’s books for next season.
Cleveland will have one more option decision to make on Zizic by October 31, 2019. Assuming the team exercises his fourth-year option for 2020/21 before that deadline, the young center will become extension-eligible during the summer of 2020 and would be on track for restricted free agency in 2021.
We’re keeping tabs on all of the 2019/20 rookie scale option decisions from around the NBA right here.
The Browns firing Hue Jackson is a good enough day for Cleveland fans, anything else is just a bonus
Fun facts. The Browns have had 8 coaches since 2004, and the last six have been fired following the second Steelers game. Previously though, that has been the last game of the year.
The latest, DC Gregg “bountygate” Williams, does not rhyme with Hue, Lue or Drew. Let’s call that an end of the voodoo!