Trade Grades: Ilyasova Takes the Midnight Train to Georgia
TRADE GRADES: Ersan Ilyasova for Tiago Splitter, Atlanta Hawks 2017 Second-Round Pick Swap & Miami Heat 2017 Second-Round Pick
Welcome back to Trade Grades, where we take a look at the trades and transactions of the NBA. Today we’re looking at the trade of Ersan Ilyasova for Tiago Splitter and two 2nd-rounders.
ERSAN ILYASOVA, 2016–17 Stats with Oklahoma City Thunder/Philadelphia 76ers
26.9 minutes per game
14.3 points per game
1.7 assists per game
5.9 rebounds per game
TIAGO SPLITTER, 2016–17 Stats with Atlanta Hawks
16.1 minutes per game
8.0 points per game
1.2 assists per game
5.1 rebounds per game
Current Roles:
Ilyasova is a classic stretch-4, a long-range Turkish gunner who makes up for a lack of athleticism with nice touch and a knack for knowing exactly where to be on both ends of the floor. He played a valuable role stretching the floor for the Thunder briefly at the start of the season before being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers for young prospect Jerami Grant. In Philly, his veteran presence and floor-spacing game helped a young Sixers squad spread their wings around rising star Joel Embiid. Now, with his third team in a season after starting the year with the Oklahoma City Thunder, he’ll be asked to spread the floor for a Hawks team that’s been surprisingly spry after dealing sharpshooter Kyle Korver.
Center Tiago Splitter hasn’t been too involved in that resurgence, though. His time in Atlanta has been plagued by injury. When healthy he’s a smart passer for a big man and a capable rim protector who can score inside, but he’s missed more games than Atlanta would like, and Mike Muscala has taken much of his role while also adding a 3-point shot that Splitter doesn’t have.
Ilyasova’s Anticipated Hawks Role:
The Hawks are in need of a capable stretch 4 off the bench to back up Paul Millsap. Kris Humphries has been trying, and to his credit he’s been shooting decently this year on low volume. But he’s not near the threat from outside that Ilyasova poses. Having another three-point threat to bring off the bench might help ease the workload for Millsap a little as well, and Ilyasova next to Howard in mixed bench lineups should be a fun wrinkle.
Splitter’s Anticipated 76ers Role:
According to the Vertical’s synopsis, Splitter is expected to act as a mentor to the rest of the young centers on the Sixers for the rest of the year. Early reports indicated that he might be waived. But if Jahlil Okafor winds up getting traded and/or Joel Embiid misses significant time, Splitter might be called upon for limited minutes.
It’s unlikely he’s re-signed after the season. Philadelphia already has a logjam in their frontcourt, and the addition of Splitter only makes it worse.
Short- and Long-Term Consequences:
This season, Philly turned Jerami Grant into a heavily protected 1st-round pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder, a pick swap from the Atlanta Hawks (likely to turn into the Golden State Warriors 2nd-round pick due to previous trading), and a Miami 2nd-round pick. The spirit of Sam Hinkie is alive and well in the City of Brotherly Love. This is excellent asset management.
In the short term they lose a bit of shooting, but they’re not winning a ton of games this year anyway, and Dario Saric is probably ready to step into Ilyasova’s shoes. This might also be an indication that Embiid will miss more time than originally thought, but that’s not for sure. Turning an expiring journeyman into useful assets is a smart move either way.
For the Hawks, they shore up a position of need at very minimal cost. The Warriors second they give is negligible value, and the Miami second is the only asset of much worth to them. In return they get a guy who can help in the short term and might be convinced to serve as a stopgap in the unlikely event Millsap walks away from the team in free agency this summer.
Trade Winner:
I like this for both, but I think Philly’s smart asset management gets the nod here by a very small margin. The Hawks are still making a treadmill move here, though a good one. This doesn’t move the needle enough to spur them much further in the playoffs than they’ve been.
Atlanta Hawks: B+
Philadelphia 76ers: A
All stats from Basketball-Reference.com. All salary information from BasketballInsiders.com.
