Detroit Pistons: Analyzing The Ersan Ilyasova Trade

The contract situation of Detroit Pistons power forward Greg Monroe has been considered shaky at best since Stan Van Gundy arrived in the Motor City.

There may finally be some clarity in the situation however as it now appears highly unlikely that the big man will return to Detroit next season.

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The reason?

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 made the move official mere minutes after Yahoo Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski reported it.

OFFICIAL: The #Pistons have acquired Ersan Ilyasova in exchange for Caron Butler & Shawne Williams. pic.twitter.com/bSqbck1v5V
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) June 11, 2015

This all comes just a few short weeks after Van Gundy was noncommittal about Monroe’s future.

Per David Mayo of MLive.com:

"“We’ll have to look at what comes up, where we are after the draft, possible trades, all of that, and just go from there and see what’s best for both sides.”"

It now seems clear that the best thing for both sides, Monroe and the Pistons, is a future apart. And Monroe will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Outside of the fact that Monroe will now likely take his talents elsewhere, this deal is a good one for the Pistons. There is no doubt that Ersan Ilyasova’s value is lower following his injury riddled 2013-14 campaign.

However, if you go back beyond that season, Ilyasova was shouting a remarkable 45. 5 percent in 2011-12 and 44.4 percent from deep in 2012-13.

Ilyasova’s efficiency as a three-point shooter will help spread the floor around Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond and in pick-and-rolls, allowing the Pistons to play Van Gundy’s preferred style.

In other words, it’s a good fit. Just ask Grantland’s Zach Lowe:

"“Monroe is a tricky player around which to build. An ideal roster would surround him with at least one big man who can both shoot from range and protect the basket, and there are maybe a half-dozen guys who can do both of those things at an elite level. They are expensive and very hard to get.”"

Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale also recently touched on the situation regarding Monroe ability (or lack there of rather) to pull opposing defenses away from Andre Drummond on the pick-and-rolls.

"“More than 89 percent of his total shot attempts came within eight feet of the basket in 2014-15. When he did journey to the outside, he did so to blah consequence; he converted under 35 percent of his buckets between eight and 24 feet.”"

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