Yam Madar Rejects Hapoel Tel Aviv Offer as Club Withdraws Contract Proposal

Yam Madar, a player for Hapoel Tel Aviv, faces a critical deadline as the mutual option to extend his contract expires at midnight between Tuesday and Wednesday. If Madar pays the $300,000 release clause, he will become a free agent, ending his contract with the club. In a dramatic turn, Madar declined an unprecedented contract offer from Hapoel Tel Aviv owner Ofer Yanai, which was reportedly worth about $2.5 million per season over a long-term deal. Following Madar's refusal, Yanai withdrew the offer, leaving Madar without a current contract proposal from Hapoel.

Meanwhile, Maccabi Tel Aviv, the reigning champions, have expressed interest in signing Madar. The club is currently struggling to finalize contracts with their two guards, Tamir Blatt and Efe Lundberg. Maccabi plans to present Madar with what could be the highest contract ever offered to an Israeli player by the club, aiming to have him replace Blatt, whose negotiations have stalled. According to a Maccabi source, an official offer will only be made once Madar becomes a free agent, with current discussions limited to preliminary talks. The proposed contract is expected to span at least three years, guaranteeing Madar a significant role and substantial playing time in both the EuroLeague and the Israeli league, aligning with his requests.