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Free agency 2018: Which players should the Portland Trail Blazers target?

ByShawn P. O’Connor|
CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 2: LeBron James
CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 2: LeBron James
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ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 18: Ersan Ilyasova #7 of the Atlanta Hawks drives to the basket against the Portland Trail Blazers during the game on March 18, 2017 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 18: Ersan Ilyasova #7 of the Atlanta Hawks drives to the basket against the Portland Trail Blazers during the game on March 18, 2017 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)

Ersan Ilyasova, PF, Philadelphia 76ers

Ersan Ilyasova is a huge bargain at a very important position for the Trail Blazers.

Ilyasova, a 6-foot-10, 235-pound power forward played in 69 games in 2017-2018 for the Atlanta Hawks and the Philadelphia 76ers. He started 43 games (mostly for the Hawks), and he was an especially effective contributor for the 76ers at the tail end of the regular season and during their playoff run.

Ilyasova averaged 10.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 0.9 steals in 25.1 minutes per game in 2017-2018. He’s a respectable shooter, hitting 45.2 percent from the floor, 36 percent from three and 77.8 percent from the line.

Ersan will be entering his 10th NBA season; after his 2006-2007 rookie year in Milwaukee, he played two seasons in Spain. And he’s a huge bargain, playing on a one-year, $565,718 contract for the 76ers. If Portland can pick him up at a similar bargain price, they should pull the trigger.