Ersan Ilyasova to Pistons: Latest Trade Details, Comments and Reaction
The NBA's offseason for all 30 teams hasn't even begun yet, but a pretty major trade has reportedly already been agreed upon, as the Milwaukee Bucks have dealt Ersan Ilyasova to the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons announced the deal on Thursday.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports first reported the news.
Per Wojnarowski, the trade appears to be all about clearing cap space for Milwaukee:
"For Bucks, this is chance to shed salary, bringing in contracts that could be waived. Milwaukee could have $22M in cap space.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 11, 2015"
For Detroit, landing Ilyasova gives it insurance at power forward in the event that Greg Monroe departs in free agency this summer, perhaps more a formality than a possibility at this point.
Ilyasova, 28, averaged 11.5 points and 4.8 rebounds in 22.7 minutes per game this season for the Bucks. But dealing him not only clears major cap space for the team; he was also expendable given Jabari Parker's presence, as Parker is the forward the Bucks will build around for the next decade.
Getting Caron Butler and Shawne Williams in return seems to be about clearing cap space and nothing more, per Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders:
The opportunity for Ilyasova to earn more playing time and carve out a bigger role for himself in Detroit has to be ideal. This appears to be the rare deal where all sides will benefit greatly.
