Philadelphia 76ers should trade for Ersan Ilyasova (again)

The cost

There’s one major downside if the 76ers decide to trade for Ilyasova. Any trade involving Ilyasova would have to be completed before the 76ers re-sign their two biggest free agents in Butler and Harris. The Sixers can go (and will) go over the salary cap to re-sign Butler and Harris. After that, they won’t be able to go over the salary cap, so if the trade isn’t executed before they re-sign their key free agents and the 76ers go over the salary cap, then it can’t happen.

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Then there’s also the tax implications to consider as well. The Sixers have made it clear they are willing to pay whatever it takes to retain both Harris and Butler. However, Ilyasova is owed $7 million next season, which would cost ownership more in taxes.

There is a positive with adding Ilyasova, his contract in 2020-21 is not guaranteed. This means that if the 76ers decide he’s not worth the cost, then the Sixers can cut ties with him after one season without any long term salary cap implications.

It’s no secret that the Sixers bench was one of the worst in the NBA this past season. Adding a player like Ilyasova would go a long way in improving the 76ers bench for next season. If a championship is really the goal of ownership and the franchise, then it should be worth the cost of adding him for a minimum of one season.

Adding Ilyasova could only cost the Philadelphia 76ers one year of increased taxes on ownership, while improving the bench and adding another first round pick, for just the 34th pick in the draft. The hypothetical deal appears to be worth the cost.