The Milwaukee Bucks will be keeping their starting power forward. HoopsHype reports via Twitter that Ersan Ilyasova has rebuffed reported advances by the Brooklyn Nets to accept an extension with the Bucks – one that will be worth $45 million over five years.

Free agent forward Ersan Ilyasova is close to an agreement on a five-year, $45 million contract to stay with the … sulia.com/c/basketball/f…—
HoopsHype (@hoopshype) July 08, 2012

Ilyasova joined the Bucks in the 2005 NBA Draft, but was demoted to the D-League for his first season before making a handful of appearances in 2006-2007. Ilyasova left the Bucks to sign with Barcelona of the Spanish Liga ACB, before returning in 2009. Ilyasova enjoyed a career year last season, averaging 13 points and nine rebounds per game while shooting 49% from the field.

The Nets are looking at restricted-free agent Ersan Ilyasova if they aren’t able to land Dwight Howard. (Gary Dineen/Getty Images)

The Brooklyn Nets will look to sign Milwaukee Bucks restricted free-agent forward Ersan Ilyasova if the team isn’t able to land Dwight Howard, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports:

Ilyasova will visit two teams with salary-cap space this week, including the Cleveland Cavaliers, but according to Wojnarowski, the Bucks will match any offer to retain the 25-year-old from Turkey:

The Bucks have offered Ilyasova a five-year contract worth nearly $40 million, league sources said, and so far have shown no desire to partner in a sign-and-trade deal that the Nets need to acquire him. [S]o far, the Bucks are unmoved over sign-and-trade options for Ilyasova and are determined to keep him.

Selected 36th overall in the second round of the 2005 NBA Draft, Ilyasova has turned out to be a steal for the Bucks, averaging 13 points and 8.8 rebounds in only 27 minutes last season. He’s also proven to be an efficient scorer, especially for a power forward, shooting 49-percent from the field and 45-percent from three. He had perhaps his best game of the season last year, ironically in a 92-85 win against the Nets, with 29 points and 25 rebounds in 36 minutes.

The agent for free agent forward Ersan Ilyasova told HoopsHype.com that there are six offers on the table for his client — three from NBA teams (the Milwaukee Bucks, the Brooklyn Nets and the Toronto Raptors) and three from European clubs (one a “big offer”).

Moreover, agent Tolga Tugsavul said that Ilyasova likely would make a decision next week on which offer to accept. No word on whether the Nets might withdraw their offer following their recent flurry of activity.

Ilysasova was runner-up for the NBA’s Most Improved Player award after a season in which the 6’10″ Turk averaged 13.0 points and 8.8 rebounds in just 27.6 minutes, while shooting 45.5% from the three-point line.