Milwaukee Bucks: To buy or sell on Ersan Ilyasova’s future
By Dalton Sell
Milwaukee Bucks: To buy or sell on Ersan Ilyasova’s future – What to buy
Strictly looking at these past two seasons, Ersan Ilyasova has been the model of consistency statistically for the Milwaukee Bucks.
- 2018-19 per game – 18.4 minutes, 6.8 points, .438/.363/.824 shooting splits, 4.5 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 67 games.
- 2019-20 per game – 15.7 minutes, 6.6 points, .466/.365/.828 shooting splits, 4.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 63 games.
The Turkish veteran’s side-by-side stats are nearly identical, the most apparent being a 36.3 3-point percentage last season being ticked up to 36.5 percent this year. Which, ironically, is his career percentage from behind the arc over his 12 NBA seasons.
That floor spacing capability is certainly Ersan’s most desirable quality for a Milwaukee team that thrives off the success of its shooters.
Although he did not shoot the longball at a high volume, after having launched 297 total attempts over the last two seasons, Milwaukee needs all the help they can get from behind the arc, and Ilyasova has been useful. Per nba.com/stats, Ilyasova connected on 38.1 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3-pointers on the season, providing a significant boost for the Bucks on the perimeter.
However, given the $7 million annual salary that the 33-year-old has made under his current contract structure, his overall production has not hit the value of his deal. While he was a decent piece in Mike Budenholzer’s rotation, that changed when the Bucks made a splash on the buyout market to limit Ersan’s minutes. More on that coming up next.