Zydrunas Ilgauskas picks up his player option to return to the Miami Heat in 2011-12

36-year old center Zydrunas Ilgauskas has exercised his player option for the 2011-12 season to return to the Miami Heat.  Ilgauskas played in 72 games (51 starts) for the Heat last year and he averaged 15.9 minutes, 5.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.  He has now played in 843 games (724 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 27.2 minutes, 13.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.6 blocked shots per game.  Ilgauskas is obviously chasing a ring because he could have gotten more cash on the open market.  It will be interesting to see how much Big Z plays in 2011-12 as he was a forgotten man in the playoffs.