CHARLOTTE, N.C. _ Ersan Ilyasova woke up Tuesday morning expecting to be playing in Los Angeles' Staples Center one day later.
Instead, the power forward was at the Spectrum Center on Wednesday night playing with 10 guys he met just seven hours earlier.
Welcome to the unstable world of the newest 76er. Ilyasova tied for the team high with 14 points and added three rebounds and two assists in a 109-93 setback to the Charlotte Hornets. The Sixers acquired the ninth-year veteran and a conditional draft pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder for Jerami Grant on Tuesday. The Sixers (0-4) are the Turkish player's fourth team since January 2015.
"I was at the practice yesterday with OKC. I didn't even know," Ilyasova said about being traded. "I found out after practice, obviously, when we were about to leave for L.A. (to play the Clippers). That's when I found out."
The 6-foot-10, 235-pounder was initially in shock. But after thinking about it, Ilyasova said he realized the Sixers are a good situation for him. He's excited to be a part of a franchise that's building for the future.
"The most important thing is to be wanted somewhere," Ilyasova said. "I felt like they wanted me and I'm looking forward it."
The Thunder acquired him along with Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis from the Orlando Magic in exchange for Serge Ibaka on June 23. He averaged 5.0 points and 5.3 rebounds in three games with the Thunder. While Oklahoma City had been interested in Grant, this move was basically a salary dump for the Western Conference franchise. Ilyasova will make $8.4 million this season, the last one of his contract.
The Sixers have said that they don't intend to trade him this season. That's something Ilyasova wanted to know when he spoke to the organization on Tuesday after the deal.
"Being on four different teams in a year and a half is really frustrating," he said. "So (the conversation was to see) if they see me as part of the team moving forward. I always get those positive answers.
"Like I said, I look forward to being a part of something great and help build."
He entered the game with 8 minutes, 3 seconds left in the first quarter. It didn't take long for him to showcase his shooting ability. He drained a 24-foot three-pointer at the 7:23 mark.
Ilyasova made a solid defensive play, drawing a charge on Hornets swingman and Somerdale (Camden County) product Michael Kidd-Gilchrist with 6:29 left in the second quarter. Then went added back-to-back baskets on a tip-in and a layup late in the quarter. Ilyasova made 5 of 12 shots _ including going 2 for 6 on three-pointers _ in 24 minutes.
He had to be exhausted.
Ilyasova arrived in Charlotte at 1 a.m. He then had his physical at 8 a.m. before meeting with coach Brett Brown and president of basketball operation Bryan Colangelo. Then he met his teammates and had film study at noon. By 4 p.m., Ilyasova was at the arena learning the Sixers plays.
The Sixers had a 53-46 lead at the half. However, the Hornets (3-1) broke the game open by scoring the first 13 points of the third quarter. They never looked back.
Charlotte shooting guard Nic Batum finished with 20 points to go with seven rebounds. Dario Saric shared top scoring honors with Ilyasova with 14 points.
Jahlil Okafor added 12 points and five rebounds in a reserve role one night after sitting out the loss to Orlando Magic. He came off the bench because he was restricted to 21 minutes due to right knee soreness.
Former Charlotte standout Gerald Henderson and Richaun Holmes, who started at center, had 11 points apiece.
The Sixers were without Joel Embiid, who doesn't play on back-to-back nights.
