Takeaway Four: Ersan Ilyasova Proving Veteran Value On Young Roster
Nine year NBA veteran Ersan Ilyasova works very well on this young team. This Philadelphia 76ers roster is built for versatility and mobility. Unfortunately, the team entered the season without the services of projected starting point guard Jerry Bayless. Likewise, starting rookie small forward Ben Simmons was unable to suit up to begin the season. Even the solid performer at either center or power forward Nerlens Noel was unable to answer the bell.
That placed the team, already with minutes restrictions for both Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor, in a bit of a bind with the team’s front court, forcing young rookie Dario Saric to not only start, but play the majority of minutes at the power forward role with no viable option to rest him.
The team needed to address the four role, and did so by trading Jerami Grant for Ersan Ilyasova and a 2020 first round (top-20 protected) pick.
At the time, empahsis was placed on the conversion of second round selection Grant into a late first round selection, but the value of the exchange so far has been the synergy of Ilyasova iwth Saric.
So far, Saric is proving to be the more physical, and defensive four. Meanwhile Ilyasova has been the more dependable scorer. In this contest, Ilyasova scored 11 points and pulled down two rebounds while Saric scored ten points while pulling down seven rebounds.