After celebrating its 58th Israeli championship, Maccabi Tel Aviv wakes up to a difficult EuroLeague summer. About two months before training begins, the club still needs to put together roughly half of its roster. Only eight players are certain to stay, while another, Lonnie Walker, is under contract but in a complicated situation. Several others are still being negotiated with, but key positions remain unfilled.
The biggest uncertainty is who will actually build the team. Italian media report that sporting director Claudio Coldebella has already agreed to join Roma, and Maccabi has allowed him to negotiate with the Italian club. He has been frustrated during the season with how the roster was assembled and wants a change. After the title, he did not rule out leaving, and club sources now believe an announcement in Italy may come soon. If he goes, coach Oded Kattash and his staff, with help from management, will likely lead the rebuild.
Budget-wise, the club is working within a pre-set framework, despite owner Arik Shtilman's pledge to invest heavily. Player payroll is set to rise by about 20 percent from last season, but much of that increase will go to renewed deals for existing players such as Jimmy Clark and Jaylen Hoard. Maccabi currently has guaranteed contracts for five Israelis, Roman Sorkin, Gur Lavi, T.J. Leaf, Will Rayman and Amit Abu, plus four foreigners, Oshae Brissett, Clark, Hoard and Walker.
Maccabi is actively negotiating with John DiBartolomeo, Tamir Blatt and Isiaha Lundberg, but none of those talks is close to completion, and at least one may leave. Walker, who carries a $2.2 million contract for next season, is the most expensive player on the roster. The club says it intends to honor that deal unless a separation becomes possible, while hoping he might still land an NBA contract. The club also needs reinforcements on the wing and at least two big men, after losing Marcus Bingham to Fenerbahce. Zach Hankins remains a possible option, but only as a secondary center behind a top foreign big, Sorkin and Leaf.
