Hapoel Tel Aviv will have to wait at least another season for a long-coveted championship, after losing the Israeli playoff final series to Maccabi Tel Aviv 3-1 on Sunday night. The Reds finish the campaign without a trophy, with their only notable achievement being a place in the EuroLeague playoffs.
After major squad upheaval over the past two seasons to reach the required level, this summer is expected to be calmer. One major issue is whether the club will truly return to Hekhal Shlomo, and if so, where its bigger games will be played next season.
Coach Dimitris Itoudis will stay on despite the final defeat. He may also be joined by a senior Israeli assistant coach, with names mentioned including Nano Ginzburg, Guy Goodes, Shmulik Brener and Yehu Orland. Several players are already certain to remain: Elijah Bryant, Antonio Blakeney, Ish Wainright, and Tayi Odiase all renewed during the season, while Vasa Micić and Oz Blayzer have guaranteed contracts.
Other players are uncertain. Yam Madar has an exit option and an agreement with LSU, so a decision is expected soon. Jonathan Motley agreed on a new deal during the season, but the staff may still want to end the partnership. Among the Israeli players, only Blayzer and Madar are relatively secure, while Guy Palatin, Itay Segev and Yiftach Ziv are likely to leave. Tomer Ginat and Bar Timor could also depart despite having significant contracts, with Hapoel Jerusalem interested in Ginat and Ironi Ness Ziona targeting Timor and Segev.
Chris Jones, Llewellyn Randolph, Colleen Malcolm and likely Kiandre Cook are also expected to move on. Hapoel is close to signing Kadin Carrington from Hapoel Jerusalem and Jacob Toppin, who most recently played for the Atlanta Hawks, both as naturalized players. The club is also in talks with Israeli guard Adam Ariel, and aims to add three or four foreign players. Among the forward candidates is Trey Lyles of Real Madrid, who is expected to leave this summer.
