NBA Free Agency 2017 Player Profile: Ersan Ilyasova

Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
4 of 5
Mar 13, 2017; San Antonio, TX, USA; Atlanta Hawks power forward Ersan Ilyasova (7) drives to the basket while guarded by San Antonio Spurs power forward David Lee (10) during the first half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2017; San Antonio, TX, USA; Atlanta Hawks power forward Ersan Ilyasova (7) drives to the basket while guarded by San Antonio Spurs power forward David Lee (10) during the first half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Salary

Ersan Ilyasova made $8.4 million in the 2016-17 NBA season. Thanks to the generosity of the Milwaukee Bucks front office, the role player made a nice annual salary for the past few seasons. That deal looked a lot worse two years ago, as the rising cap made the number more palatable.

At 30 years old, it seems highly unlikely Ersan would get another deal like that. That being said…

The also 30-year-old (at the time) Mirza Teletovic got a three-year, $30 million deal for being a very similar player to Ilyasova. Stretch bigs have done very well in the NBA lately, actually.

Chandler Parsons and Harrison Barnes are both hybrid small-power forwards who got max deals in free agency. Jeff Green, somehow, got $15 million for a single season from the Magic. Jared Dudley signed a $30 million deal with the Phoenix Suns, and Darrell Arthur got a three-year, $23 million contract from the Denver Nuggets.

All this is to say, essentially, it probably isn’t wise to pay Ersan Ilyasova $30-ish million for three-ish years, but some team might well do it anyway.