Detroit Pistons coach and President Stan Van Gundy is interested in extending Turkish forward Ersan Ilyasova’s deal to the 2016-17 season.
Ilyasova currently has a non-guaranteed deal, worth $8.4million and Van Gundy is interested in keeping him in the Motor City.
“That’s what we anticipate right now. … That certainly would be my thing,” Van Gundy said about Ilyasova’s option to the Detroit Free Press.
“He’s a very good player on a very good contract. I don’t really see a scenario where we wouldn’t.”
The 28-year-old Turkey international joined the Pistons from the Milwaukee Bucks last June as part of a trade that saw Caron Butler and Shawne Williams head the opposite way.
Since then, Ilyasova has averaged 10.9 points for the Pistons who currently lie just outside the Playoff picture on an 18-15 record.
Milwaukee meanwhile, missing the Turkish forward’s work rate and all-round influence on the court are third from bottom in the Eastern Conference with a 13-21 mark.
