Ersan Ilyasova to sign with Jazz per Jordan Schultz

[Handlogten's Heros]

Shaq kinda sucked though and deserved to play behind Niang and Oni at the very least. Forrest probably should have been ahead of him also.

I mean a handful of garbage time minutes is not much to really judge a guy but sure.

Niang has played well enough defensively to hold his spot... if his shooting keeps trending up then he’s a solid rotation piece. The issue is we need something different to help us matchup in the playoffs. Guys like Shaq or RHJ were guys you use against Jamal Murray, Lebron, Kawhi... for 10-12 minutes and hope it makes a difference in the playoffs. We never really saw what Shaq could do.

I do think that last rotation spot should be experimented with to find some roster variance. Oni, Brantley, Morgan should be given some run to see what they can do even if Niang gives us the best chance to win that night.

 

[Jingled]

Don't see him playing over Niang. I seriously doubt he gets any rotation minutes unless we have an injury.

 

[whatthe]

Justin Zanik's Milwaukee connection pays off again.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

What deals do you think Ilyasova would prevent? I feel like he's becoming a bit of a red herring here. I used the idea of RHJ as an example, but it could be anyone. We didn't sign RHJ because we didn't want to. I think if we're missing out on other guys, it's because we don't want them. If an OPJ shakes loose, don't conflate the idea of DL doing nothing with being the same in this situation. DL is Mr. Tunnel-Vision. Someone like OPJ shakes loose, DL is going to focus on that. If we're not pursuing guys, it's because they're outside the purview of DL's tunnel vision, and I don't believe Ilyasova alters that at all, but superficially it may appear that way. If DL has no interest in a Sterling Brown, just like he has no interest in RHJ, it's not because of Ilyasova. And DL would prove that lack of interest whether it were Ilyasova or 10-days.

He doesn't prevent a deal... but he confirms that we are looking for safety blankets and not higher upside options. He is opportunity cost and will jump the line in front of other options like Morgan, Brantley, Oni should we have an injury to Niang/Bojan. All the Jazz reporters are basically saying hes a four not a five and won't play ahead of Niang.

The signing kinda confirms the thinking you outlined above... DL isn't really looking for the thing most of us think we need. Signing a 10-day means we are churning and still looking. A rest of the year deal means if something clearly better comes along then sure we will bite... but if something kinda better or that could be better comes along then no thanks. Not having him would mean we might have a chance to fall into something that could be great... kinda like how we fell into Jordan Clarkson.

Ersan just signals to me that they are still thinking regular season. The guy could step into Niang's role and be as good or a slightly better version of Georges... but what we need in the playoffs is likely something different than either guy brings.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Justin Zanik's Milwaukee connection pays off again.

Forgot that connection... The guy has some fans in the front office. Quin loves him some vets... I guess we will see but I doubt we brought him in to collect dust.

 

[Isaiah 1:13]

The Utah Jazz are reportedly signing free agent forward Ersan Ilyasova to a veterans minimum deal, per ESPN's Jordan Schultz. The 12-year veteran has already gone through COVID-19 testing protocols, and will be able to join Utah for the second half of the season.

Ilyasova last played for the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2019-20 season, where he averaged 6.6 points and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 46.6 percent from the field and 36.5 percent from deep on two attempts per game. The Bucks waived him back in November before the season started, and the 6-foot-9 forward hasn't played since. He'll give the Jazz some additional depth in the frontcourt, not that they really need it with Rudy Gobert, Derrick Favors and Georges Niang all splitting a brunt of the power forward and center minutes.

Adding Ilyasova will also give the Jazz yet another weapon that can knock down 3s at a high clip as he's a career 36.5 percent shooter from beyond the arc. Utah has been the third-best 3-point shooting team in the league this season, and adding Ilyasova will only bolster its shooting depth. At 27-9, the Jazz enter the second half of the season with the best record in the league and currently sit atop the Western Conference. They've looked nearly unstoppable in the first half, and they'll need to keep their foot on the gas in order to secure the top spot in the West for the playoffs.

Man when you look at his production rate last season in just under 16 minutes a game, that's impressive. Maybe he hasn't lost a step after all. He's always been money come playoff time. Kinda surprised that Budenholzer gave him his walking papers in November considering what he's given them.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I'm guessing it's going to be similar to the Jonas Jerebko experience so I will probably hate it.

 

[whatthe]

I smell a precursor to a trade.

 

[Gameface]

I smell a precursor to a trade.

Nah, that's just the Great Salt Lake you're smelling, it's been a windy day...

 

[Isaiah 1:13]

Don't see him playing over Niang. I seriously doubt he gets any rotation minutes unless we have an injury.

I'm not so sure, when you look at his stats from last season - he beats Niang in most every category including rebounds, steals and blocks. I think he takes some of Niang's minutes, some of Favors' minutes and possibly some of Ingles' minutes at the three. I admit I was a little skeptical particularly with talk of a forged birth certificate some years back. But if you look at his stats year to year, they've remained consistent and last season was particularly strong. I'll bet he gets over 13 minutes a game come playoff time if he stays healthy.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I'm not so sure, when you look at his stats from last season - he beats Niang in most every category including rebounds, steals and blocks. I think he takes some of Niang's minutes, some of Favors' minutes and possibly some of Ingles' minutes at the three. I admit I was a little skeptical particularly with talk of a forged birth certificate some years back. But if you look at his stats year to year, they've remained consistent and last season was particularly strong.

Ingles minutes????? Nah man. Niang for sure... Favs is a maybe but Tony Jones and others were pretty adamant that he’s not playing the 5 in our system.

 

[Isaiah 1:13]

Ingles minutes????? Nah man. Niang for sure... Favs is a maybe but Tony Jones and others were pretty adamant that he’s not playing the 5 in our system.

Five? Three don't you mean? Tony Jones ain't the coach, against a smaller or more crafty big I can see him coming in and giving us that stretch 5 look, but we'll have to see. This guy is really smooth and was an athletic 6'9". I was concerned about his age because I'd read years ago that there was speculation that his birth certificate had been altered. Like you, I was hoping for someone a little younger, but all things considered, this is a good pickup IMO.