Hapoel Tel Aviv and Ofer Yanai have mentioned fairly just a few occasions lately that they intend to alter the order of forces in Israeli basketball. This morning (Tuesday) the group introduced a sensational signing, when Jonathan Motley, who led Fenerbahçe’s entrance line for the previous two years, joined the group on a two-year contract.
The signing is shocking, however Hapoel have been assured that they’d be capable of full it when the official negotiations lasted solely a couple of week. In actual fact, on the way in which to signing Motley selected to reject groups that supplied him regarding 2 million euros for a a lot decrease contract in Hapoel, and there have been a number of causes that led him to take action.
First, Motley is aware of the group’s coach Stefanos Dedas, who served as Dimitris Itoudis’ assistant coach at Fenerbahce within the 2022/2023 season and the connection between them helped persuade the middle to return. However not solely – Itodis, who got here to sport quantity 2 between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv on the Drive In, instructed those that performed beneath him up to now in regards to the environment within the corridor and Hapoel’s excessive and said objectives in Europe, which additionally helped to persuade Motley. In a while, the actor additionally had a dialog with Ofer Yanai following which he determined to affix this group since he’s not afraid of the safety scenario in Israel.
The signing of Motley is particularly shocking as a result of it’s already a confirmed identify within the Euroleague, and one that may play within the huge groups of the highest enterprise. For that matter, one of many events within the middle was Panathinaikos, nevertheless it supplied the participant to function Matthias Lesor’s substitute within the quantity 5 place and never settle for the place within the prime 5. As well as, Motley’s identify was additionally on the lists of Maccabi Tel Aviv, which is in search of a middle following the departure of Josh Niebo. At Hapoel they assured him that he can be the group’s main participant and stand on the prime of the hierarchy, which helped in making the choice ultimately.
In any case, this signing evokes hope in Hapoel Tel Aviv, who anticipate Motley’s arrival to open the door for extra gamers of this degree to affix the group. Up to now this summer season, other than Motley, Joe Ragland, Oz Blazer and Man Palatin have additionally signed with the membership for the 2024/2025 season.
