Ersan Ilyasova, the Turkish power forward who finished second in Most Improved Player voting in the 2011-12 season, will sign a five-year, $45 million deal to remain with the Milwaukee Bucks, reports Jorge Sierra of HoopsHype. Sierra said that Ilyasova's agent claims the deal will be done this week.
Ilyasova has spent four years in the league, all with the Bucks, though he made his debut in 2006 as a 19-year-old. Now 25, Ilyasova spent two years (2007-09) in Europe after a rough start to his NBA career, but then returned to the Bucks. In 2012, he'd been rumored to be a target of the Brooklyn Nets (assuming a Dwight Howard trade couldn't be consummated). But staying in Milwaukee likely left him the best payday.
Last season, the Turk started 41 games, averaging 13 points and 8.8 rebounds. He had 20 double-doubles, including one monstrous 29-25 game against the Nets.
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