The Sixer Sense
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4 Reasons to Aim to Retain Ersan Ilyasova After This Season

By Josh Wilson

Dec 16, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Ersan Ilyasova (7) dribbles past Los Angeles Lakers guard Louis Williams (23) during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Los Angeles Lakers won 100-89. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Ersan Ilyasova (7) dribbles past Los Angeles Lakers guard Louis Williams (23) during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Los Angeles Lakers won 100-89. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Philadelphia 76ers have Ersan Ilyasova on contract for the remainder of this season, but there’s reason to try to sign him after this year, too.

The Philadelphia 76ers have quite the busy offseason ahead of them. If they don’t end up trading Nerlens Noel at some point this season to clear their frontcourt logjam, they need to figure out whether or not they should match any offers that come in for him, as he will be a restricted free agent.

On top of that, the Sixers are expected to have two lottery picks in this year’s NBA Draft, adding to the amount of things the Sixers need to figure out what they want to do with this offseason.

Ersan Ilyasova may not be near the top of the list when it comes to a to-do list for the offseason, but he should be somewhere on the list. The Sixers need to figure out whether or not Ilyasova fits with this team, if they should attempt to re-sign him, and if so, for how much money.

Ilyasova was traded for earlier this season in return for forward Jerami Grant, a trade that the Sixers seem to have won big-time — unless the Oklahoma City Thunder have some secret weapon that relates to Jerami Grant.

His play has been solid this season, and he seems to be fitting right in as one of the glue guys of the Sixers roster. Philly has won 7 games this year so far, which is six more than the team had in the win column at this point last year.

While the wins aren’t because of Ilyasova alone, they are partially because of him.

There are plenty of reasons to aim to retain Ersan at the end of the season. Here are a few.