Free Agency: Should the Philadelphia 76ers Bring Back Ersan Ilyasova?

With free agency around the corner, the Philadelphia 76ers could look to bring in a familiar face in former Sixer Ersan Ilyasova?

Now, this topic seems a bit odd. Why bring back a player you could’ve held onto in the first place? It seems a bit counterintuitive, right? We already know what kind of player Ersan Ilyasova is. If anything, that should give us as fans more reason to bring him back.

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Clearly, Ersan Ilyasova played well for the Philadelphia 76ers. He essentially did four things for the team during his tenure. First, he yielded the Sixers a protected first round pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder. Second, he came in and provided quality minutes as a starting power forward. Third, and arguably most importantly, he smoothly transitioned to a second unit role once Dario Saric came into his own. Fourth, Ilyasova basically allowed the Sixers to accrue additional assets in a trade-deadline deal.

With that said, bringing back Ersan Ilyasova could prove vital to this Philadelphia 76ers team. While some argue that bringing him back could hurt Dario Saric’s development, I believe the opposite effect would occur. Considering how well Ilyasova fit in head coach Brett Brown’s system during his tenure, familiarity could work in his favor.

Familiar Face, Familiar Place, Familiar Grace?

Think about it. Why do coaches typically struggle with younger players? Normally, it takes some time to make young guys play within a system. In the Sixers’ case, Brett Brown’s system actually promotes cohesiveness with one another. That said, having that veteran who already knows the system promotes growth at a quicker rate.

Philadelphia 76ers

Now, it goes without saying that Ersan Ilyasova had his best year as a Sixer. During his tenure in Philly, he averaged 14.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. Those are solid numbers, to say the least. Clearly, this spike in his game came from increased opportunities.

Remember, Ersan Ilyasova started 40 of the 53 games that he played for the Sixers. His expanded role in Philly could have easily contributed to his new-found success. Basically, more starts equate to more opportunities to succeed. Ilyasova excelled in that role. But, that does not mean he can’t excel in a slightly different role going forward.

Now, some will argue that Ersan Ilyasova stalled the development of Dario Saric. This theory does not actually make the most sense. If anything, Ersan helped the team way more than he gets credit for. With all the hubbub surrounding Joel Embiid and Dario Saric, Ilyasova was the middleman that helped get them both playing a higher level.

Essentially, Ersan’s presence gave Dario time to adjust to the NBA game. After a rocky start, the time period where Saric came off the bench in favor of Ilyasova benefited both parties. Ersan’s ability to stretch the floor helped showcase Joel Embiid’s all-around ability. As a result, everyone benefited from the play of Ersan Ilyasova.

Small Role, Bigger Toll?

Now, the real issue comes in the form of Ersan Ilyasova’s price tag in free agency. While he did show signs of a career year last season, he also could come at a heftier price. Ideally, a deal could be made that does not sacrifice the long term game.

Obviously, at this point in his career, it’s imperative that Ersan Ilyasova gets his money. He recently turned 30 (happy belated, Ersan!). At this point in his career, the money does not come as fruitfully. Financial stability reigns supreme once you reach your 30s in NBA.

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Even with that in mind, what should the Philadelphia 76ers give up to get him? For reference, Ersan’s previous contract clocked in at five years, $40 million. That’s roughly around eight million dollars a year. To me, eight million dollars a year would work well for a player like Ersan. However, he probably wouldn’t accept that, especially with the year he had.

Because of this, if I were general manager Bryan Colangelo, I’d up the ante. Considering the lack of depth the Philadelphia 76ers have at the power forward position, I think a two or three-year deal makes sense. I would even consider throwing Ilyasova around $9.5- 10 million a year. He does so much for the Sixers, and a familiar face could prove vital in free agency.

Short Term Bench Compliment

Now, I understand that spending this kind of money may not make sense initially. However, as my colleague Christopher Kline eloquently puts it:

"“As free agents of that ilk enter the final years of their primes, they’re likely to chase the most lucrative deal possible."

As the cap increases, teams can afford to overspend on players of this caliber in the short term. While Ilyasova does not have the prestige of a Kyle Lowry or a George Hill, he fills a glaring need for the Sixers. Depth in the frontcourt may end up being more important than people realize.

The key here lies in guys like Jahlil Okafor and Richaun Holmes. These two will likely fight for the coveted backup center spot for the Sixers this season. Both players work best in the paint. Having a stretch-four type like Ersan Ilyasova could seriously benefit the team for the next few years.

One more note to add, the inevitability of a potential injury. As much as we all want to believe everything will be alright, injuries happen. You can’t predict them, but you can prepare for them. If someone like Dario Saric were to go down, Ersan’s familiarity with the system makes him an easy plug-and-play guy. He already has the experience with Joel Embiid, and would effectively maintain order with this Sixers team.

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So, bringing back Ersan Ilyasova in Free Agency may actually work to the benefit of this young Philadelphia 76ers team. While the price tag may end up being a little more than in previous years, the rising cap could work to their benefit. On a short term deal, Ersan Ilyasova could provide depth and knowledge at a position of need. Hopefully, both parties can work out a solid deal that helps the team going forward.