In what can only be described as strange timing, we’ve received an NBA Finals #WojBomb, notifying us of a trade completed by the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons.
Milwaukee has traded forward Ersan Ilyasova to Detroit for Caron Butler and Shawne Williams, league sources tell Yahoo.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 11, 2015
The Pistons have continued to be in search of more outside shooting, as evidenced by acquisition of Jodie Meeks last offseason and the trade that brought them Anthony Tolliver during the 2014-15 campaign. Bringing in Ilyasova will help stretch the floor so Andre Drummond and company can have space to work in the paint.
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From Milwaukee’s standpoint, they’ve been disappointed with Ilyasova ever since they gave him a five-year deal worth $40 million back in 2012. He’s been rumored in trades the past two seasons and only has $8.3 million guaranteed left on his deal. The 6-foot-9 power forward from Turkey was a terrific marksman back in 2011-12, when he finished second in the NBA with a three-point percentage of 45.5. He followed that up with a 44.4 percent clip (4th in league) in 2012-13.
Inexplicably, Ersan fell off in a major way in 2013-14, dropping to 28.2 percent. He bounced back in 2014-15 to 38.9 percent, but injuries and inconsistency continue to haunt him.
Head coach Jason Kidd brings in a veteran in Butler who will help lead what is unquestionably a very young squad with Jabari Parker, Michael Carter-Williams and Giannis Antetokounmpo as the focal points. Williams was having a nice season with the Miami Heat (shooting 39.5 percent from three) before moving to Detroit mid-season. He bombed there, making just 4-of-26 3-point attempts.
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