For so long, Milwaukee’s Ersan Ilyasova was a prime free-agent target for the Nets. Why not? He is the near epitome of the contemporary four man: a long, 6-foot-10 guy who rebounds and stretches the floor with his shooting. Made sense, especially with the likes of Deron Williams and Brook Lopez around.
It made sense to Ilyasova, too.
“We were talking back and forth with my agent,” said Ilyasova who had 21 points and nine rebounds for the losing Bucks in the Nets’ thrilling 113-111 overtime victory Tuesday night. “They said there was a role for me in free agency but things didn’t work out for me. So I was still in Milwaukee. The good thing is that is my home. I was looking into it but it didn’t happen. To be looked at by Brooklyn, this is nice.”
Dominos fell. The Nets found themselves in position for Joe Johnson. They got him. They re-signed Deron Williams, Brook Lopez. They gave Kris Humphries a boat load of money over two years, just in case they ever wanted to relive the “Dwightmare” and the pursuit of Dwight Howard. Cap space vanished.
If the Turkish-born Ilyasova were willing to be paid in sunflower seeds, then maybe the Nets could have signed him to get him off their backs: in 14 career games against the Nets, including Tuesday, Ilyasova has averaged 13.1 points, 8.6 rebounds and shot 51.7 percent from the field (76-of-147).
“Brooklyn I thought was one of the choices for me but during negotiations they leaned a different way. They were looking at Dwight Howard for a time,” said Ilyasova, who reminded you never say never in the NBA when asked if there still is a chance he could come to Brooklyn. “After, there was all this trading stuff talk another time. But Milwaukee has given me the opportunity.”
They also gave him a five-year, $40-million deal.
“I cannot say I am disappointed because Milwaukee is home and they were good to me. But back at the time, maybe a little bit disappointed because it didn’t go the way I was expecting,” said Ilyasova, who possibly could captain Turkey’s national team in the European Championships this summer. “I was drafted by Milwaukee, my family is there and they gave me better chance.
“But in the future, who knows?” he said with a smile.
Actually, the Nets were the ones smiling early this season as Ilyasova endured a brutally slow start — some suggest he and former coach Scott Skiles who mutually “parted ways” with the Bucks last month were a bad match. But he has flourished of late.
“Early in the season, he was playing a little bit too fast, so he slowed down a little bit and understands he’s going to be on the floor,” Bucks coach Jim Boylan said. “I want him to shoot. He’s become a very good 3-point shooter [43.7 percent this season]. A four-man who can rebound the ball and stretch the floor. Those are valuable players in the NBA.”
Sort of why the Nets liked him so much, you know ?
“He’s matured as a player. He’s more experienced,” Boylan added. “He can see when the defense is rotating to him and when he has an open shot when he needs to move it. He’s playing with a lot more confidence.”
And a bigger wallet which can sometimes hurt.
“You’ve seen it,” Boylan said. “Some guys get a new contract and the pressure of the contract weighs on them and sometimes they need a full season so they can get used to seeing the new paycheck.”