The reality is that the Milwaukee Bucks invested 45 million dollars on a player that has played professionally since he was 15 years old. A player that now at 25 not only is entering his prime years but whose productivity matches that claim. Last season, Ilyasova averaged 13 points and 8.8 rebounds per game as he took the NBA by notice. Now, “fans” fear that like Michael Redd and Tim Thomas before, Ersan is a one-hit wonder. The reality to those claims is simple; the cost of the risk (9 million per year) is well worth the reward. Ilyasova has not only seen his minutes increase but also his production over the past four seasons. At the end of the day the Milwaukee Bucks have a Coach and GM with one year left on their contract, an owner that demands they make the playoffs all while trying to raise funds and interest to build a new arena. Ilyasova, therefore, was a must sign. Why?
It is simple; Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings are the fuel that runs the engine of the Bucks dreams for 2012-2013 and for them to be successful, their strengths need to be extenuated and their weaknesses need to be protected. How does Ilyasova help them do this? Well offensively, Ilyasova is a “stretch four,” he is a player that is a face up jump shooter than can stretch the floor for the Bucks’. Jennings and Ellis are explosive NBA scorers, but they are also players that demand the ball for the majority of the shot clock. For the Bucks to be successful, Ellis and Jennings need to be surrounded by shooters, like Ilyasova. Now, the Bucks have filled their hole at Center with Dalembert and Udoh and now need their front court counterpart to be a productive offensive player. Gooden and Ilyasova fit that need for Milwaukee. Fans can expect a lot of lineups late in games that feature these shooters around Ellis and Jennings to maximize their one on ones.
"But, they drafted John Henson and have Gooden and Udoh and Sanders, why do they need Ilyasova?"
"They should amnesty Gooden!"
The above quotes are things you will hear (maybe even from this blogsite owner) and should but put in perspective. The NBA is an 8-9 man rotational league. With a lineup of Jennings, Ellis, Mbah a Moute, Ilyasova and Dalembert, there is only room for three to four players off the bench. Obviously, Gooden and Dunleavy give the Bucks veterans that can score the ball of the bench and either Udoh or Sanders will give them an option at the Center position behind Sam. So, that leaves the Guard which is Udrih at the moment. Guys like Henson and Lamb don’t need to play RIGHT NOW. It’s OK; the Bucks have a team with depth.
In all reality fans, the Bucks are not the Heat, BUT they are in better position now to be competitive, exciting to watch and ultimately make the playoffs. By the way, they did it without sacrificing depth and overpaying for bad contracts like many NBA teams are currently doing and the Bucks have been culprits of in the past.
