Report: Nets interested in trading for Ersan Ilyasova (but don’t bet on it)

Over the summer the Nets pursued (without great vigor) Ersan Ilyasova, a stretch four they wanted to add to a front line that already had a good shooting center in Brook Lopez. At least Ilyasova can rebound.

They didn’t get him. Ilyasova re-signed with Milwaukee for five years, $40 million. The Nets responded by re-signing Kris Humphries for two years ($24 million).

But the Nets are still interested in getting Ilyasova via trade, and following a disappointing start to the season for him that has led to erratic minutes and the Bucks being willing to talk. The respected Bucks beat writer Gery Woelfel of the Journal-Times speaking on WSSP radio in Milwaukee. The blog Nets Daily heard it and transcribed what he said.

“Ersan Ilyasova, you know, during the summer was courted by a handful of teams, by the Bucks but most seriously by the Bucks, Nets and Raptors and I have it on very good authority that the Nets are still trying to pursue Ersan and trying to figure out a way in which to obtain him. I think that’s something to keep an eye on as we got forward here.”

As always, the devil is in the details. Or in this case, the pretty big details of who the Nets would send back. Nets Daily broke the talk down this way.

Under questioning by the show’s host, Robert Haack Diamond of WSSP Milwaukee, Woelfel admits “it’s going to hard” to get done. The two talk about players that the Bucks might be interested in, specifically MarShon Brooks and Tyshawn Taylor, but both note that their contracts are too small to come close to matching Ilyasova’s $7.9 million this season. Woelfel says the Bucks wouldn’t be interested in Andray Blatche.

Ilyasova’s numbers have reverted back to close but slightly below what they were two seasons ago, not building off last season in his contract year. Shocking. After shooting 45.5 percent from three last season he is down to 31.3 percent this season, which makes him not a very stretchy stretch four. Ilyasova is shooting just 39.9 percent overall. He’s not a very good defender (especially if you can get him isolated in space), so unless he’s knocking down shots it’s hard to give him minutes. And Scott Skiles has cut those back at points, including bringing him off the bench, to Ilyasova’s displeasure.

It is possible a deal gets done here, but I can’t imagine the Nets want to give up much of actual value to make this work.