Maccabi Tel Aviv Nears Deal for Guard Killian Hayes Amid Losing Streak
Translated & summarized from Walla by baba
Maccabi Tel Aviv is close to signing guard Killian Hayes following their fifth consecutive loss in all competitions, a 99-94 defeat to Paris Basketball. The team hopes Hayes's arrival will help them overcome their slump and improve their 2-7 EuroLeague record. Hayes, with NBA experience, is not expected to play in the upcoming derby against Hapoel Tel Aviv, though captain John DiBartolomeo will return.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Maccabi Tel Aviv is nearing a deal to sign NBA guard Killian Hayes.
- The team lost its third straight EuroLeague game, falling to Paris Basketball 99-94.
- Hayes, 25, has played 239 NBA games with the Kings and Pistons.
- A club source expressed hope that new additions will help the team recover.
- Maccabi will face Hapoel Tel Aviv in a derby without Hayes's immediate participation.
Maccabi Tel Aviv is reportedly close to signing French-American guard Killian Hayes, aiming to bolster their roster amidst a significant slump. The team suffered their third consecutive EuroLeague loss and fourth in all competitions, falling to Paris Basketball 99-94 in Belgrade. This defeat dropped Maccabi to a 2-7 record in the EuroLeague, placing them near the bottom of the standings.
The team has been seeking a replacement for injured player Ife Lundberg, and Hayes, who has 239 NBA games with the Sacramento Kings and Detroit Pistons, is seen as a potential solution. The 25-year-old guard last played in Europe before the COVID-19 pandemic and was a seventh overall pick in the NBA draft, two spots ahead of Deni Avdija.
Despite the team's struggles, players like Bonzie Colson and Keaton Wallace expressed a desire to learn from the recent games and improve. "We can't win games in the current situation," a club source admitted, expressing hope that new additions will help stabilize the team. "Hopefully, it's not too late."
Maccabi Tel Aviv will return to Israel for their first of three upcoming Tel Aviv derbies against Hapoel Tel Aviv. Hayes is not expected to participate in the immediate derby, and the current squad will continue to face the challenge. Captain John DiBartolomeo is set to rejoin the team after his wife gave birth.
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