Hapoel Tel Aviv’s 2025/26 season ended on Tuesday night with a 3-1 loss to Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Israeli league finals, and the club is already planning a major rebuild for next season. Sports 5 compiled the main recruitment targets and the status of talks with each candidate.
Trey Lyles is one of the biggest names on the list. The 30-year-old, 2.06-meter forward impressed in his first EuroLeague season with Real Madrid, especially in the Final Four, and is now finishing his contract. Hapoel Tel Aviv has offered him a salary approaching $4 million per year. Club officials understand his main goal is to return to the NBA and expect him to try to secure an American deal in the next month, but they remain determined to sign him if that does not happen.
Mario Hezonja remains another priority. The Real Madrid star was identified by the Reds as a major target back in December, and he is still under consideration. In a conversation during EuroBasket qualifying with Israeli national team players, the Croatian said he has a connection to Israel and enjoys visiting as a player. Hapoel owner Ofer Yannai had already spoken earlier this season with people close to the player, who still has three more years on his Real Madrid contract. The club may approach the Spanish side this summer with a buyout offer.
Jacob Toppin is currently a central option and, as first reported by Sport Channel, Hapoel is negotiating with the 26-year-old small forward, who played this season for the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks. The Jewish-American forward, 2.06 meters tall and the brother of Indiana’s Obi Toppin, has been in contact with the club for the past six months and has expressed willingness to move to Israel. He is currently injured, but Hapoel still wants him.
