Zydrunas Ilgauskas is coming back to Miami. Big Z informed the Miami Heat he will exercise his $1.4 million player option for next season. The move guarantees his salary but not a roster spot, as the Heat could cut him to make room for another player down the line. Ilgauskas had been considering retirement all season, but it looks like the prospect of teaming up with the Big Three in glamorous Miami (and trying to win an NBA title – something Big Z has not done in his 13-year career) was preferable to retiring to his native Lithuania. Ilguaskas spent 12 seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers before joining the Heat as a free agent last summer, following his former Cavs teammate LeBron James. Big Z was named Miami’s starting center 10 games into the season, but saw his playing time diminish late in the year as coach Erik Spoelstra came to rely more on defensive ace Joel Anthony. Ilgauskas started Miami’s first 8 playoff games, but saw no playing time at all in the Eastern Conference and NBA Finals. NBC Sports