MARCH 10: The Jazz have officially signed Ilyasova, according to NBA.com’s transactions log.
MARCH 9: Free agent power forward Ersan Ilyasova has agreed to a sign a rest-of-season, minimum-salary contract with the Jazz, sources tell Jordan Schultz of ESPN (Twitter link). According to Schultz, Ilyasova is expected to officially sign on Wednesday after completing the COVID-19 protocol.
Ilyasova, who made his NBA debut back in 2006, has appeared in over 800 regular season contests for the Bucks and five other teams. In 2019/20, he averaged 6.6 PPG and 4.8 RPG with a .466/.365/.828 shooting line in 63 games (15.7 MPG) for Milwaukee.
Last season’s 36.5% mark from three-point range matches Ilyasova’s career rate, and his ability to stretch the floor from the power forward spot has been valuable over the years. While he’s not the most switchable or versatile defender, the 33-year-old has shown an uncanny knack over the years for taking charges on the defensive end.
Utah has had plenty of success this season with a forward rotation that includes Bojan Bogdanovic, Joe Ingles, Royce O’Neale, and Georges Niang, so it’s unclear if Ilyasova will see action outside of garbage time or if he’ll simply provide some extra frontcourt depth.
The Jazz had been carrying 13 players on standard contracts since waiving Shaquille Harrison on February 24. Since the NBA allows teams to dip below the required 14-player minimum for only two weeks at a time, they needed to add a player before the second half got underway this week, as we detailed on Monday. After signing Ilyasova, Utah will still have an open spot on its 15-man roster, but won’t have to fill it immediately — or at all.
Ilyasova will earn $17,567 per day for the rest of the regular season, with Utah’s cap hit working out to $11,100 per day. The exact rest-of-season figures will depend on when he officially signs — assuming it happens on Wednesday, he’ll earn $1,194,542 with a cap charge of $754,783.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
He won’t move the needle, but they had to add someone, and one can certainly do worse than getting Ilyasova. He knows his thing and will probably be up to standard should his number be called.
Even in his first year before he went overseas he wasn’t terrible. He’s always been a solid player
He’s a great pickup for the Jazz because he can be ready to go in case of an injury to one of their rotational players. This signing also keeps him away from the other championship contenders.
Yeah I agree…reluctantly lol. I have been hoping the 76ers would reunite with him. He probably won’t move the needle much in terms of a playoff run, but he gives a nice stretch 4 who can play a little 5 in the right matchups. Solid pickup for the Jazz…they look to be a tough series for anyone this year and just might end up in the finals.
I completely agree. I’m a Sixers fan and wish the Sixers held onto him. My guess is they now pick up Bjelica from the Kings.
I have been hoping that for a few months too lol. Time will tell, I am sure we are not the only team interested in him. Depends on the cost
Nice stimulus… $17k per day. Good for him!
Whoever said that the Jazz did not have a player that could shutdown LeBron…eat those words. Turkish Thunder has arrived! Six charges drawn on LeBron = foul out!
don’t forget he knows how to lockdown kahwi for the whole playoffs.
He can defend 3-4 and hit the open 3. It’s a solid pickup. They trade for PJ I’ll be really impressed. Good move
He has the lateral movement of a statue, but if you need a guy to stand in the corner for a catch and shoot 3 for 12-15mpg, he can be your guy.
Ersan is a great fit for the Jazz, but… I don’t know that I’d pick them over playoffs-Nuggets.
I completely forgot this guy was a free agent. I just figured he was on the end of the bench of Sacramento or OKC or another team I don’t really follow closely. Nice midseason pickup.
Wow great move but didn’t see that coming
one option for the Heat that could have been interesting if they moved their floor spacing bigs in a multiplayer deal for a defender at the 4/3, was Ersan ilyasova, who has killed the Heat over the years, but that option is off the table now
He gives Utah at least an extra floor spacer, and an element they dont have right now with a shooting big, which should be useful in certain matchups.
Bucks have missed him a lot this season. He’s better than the Freak’s brother and the other guys they’ve got off the bench.
Smart pickup
He’s a guy I’ve always kept an eye on. Solid player that has had some big games against certain teams. Sounds like we needed him for that Heat game.
MIL turned down his $7mil option if I recall. Not sure why nobody jumped on that. Ersan may have wanted to wait until the strongest teams emerged.