Ersan Ilyasova quickly became a fan favorite in Philadelphia with his charges, deceptive athleticism, and ability to hit the three. He arrived at a time in the season where the Philadelphia 76ers desperately needed some offense off the bench, and the Turkish power forward provided that. The Sixers let him walk when free agency started and signed ex-Timberwolves forward Nemanja Bjelica as his replacement, which confused some fans.
Although Ilyasova’s all-around game exceeds that of Bjelica, the new Sixer will fit in better with the second unit. Ersan’s averages are generally better than Bjelica’s, but that’s due to Bjelica averaging four fewer minutes per game and playing in the same lineup as Derrick Rose and Jamal Crawford.