:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55688095/usa_today_9910659.0.jpg)
The Atlanta Hawks have agreed terms with Ersan Ilyasova, per a report from The Vertical’s Shams Charania:
Free agent Ersan Ilyasova has agreed to a one-year, $6M deal with the Atlanta Hawks, league sources tell The Vertical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 13, 2017
Ilyasova finished the 2016-17 season with Atlanta after being traded first from Oklahoma City to Philadelphia and then to the Hawks. He averaged 10.4 points per game on 41 percent from the field in 26 regular season games with Atlanta before his minutes dropped significantly in the Hawks’ first-round playoff series against the Washington Wizards.
The veteran will fit exactly into the Hawks’ greatest need: a floor-spacing 4. The acquisition of Dewayne Dedmon earlier in the week solidified the center position, but Atlanta was still operating with just one true power forward on the roster: rookie John Collins. Ilyasova also brings some defensive prowess as a solid rebounder and one of the league’s best at drawing charges.
The largest surprise comes in Ilyasova’s contract. Just $6 million for one season is less than he had been projected to get by many experts, but he’ll be able to start for the Hawks for a majority of the year and will get touches to increase his value on next year’s free agency market.
The Hawks still have about $10.9 million in cap space to spend if they want to bring in another backup point guard or more big-man depth. Atlanta can also sit on their current space and use it to facilitate trades or take on bad salary along with future draft picks, as they did when they acquired Jamal Crawford.
Stay tuned for full coverage of free agency.