Maccabi Tel Aviv Advances Talks to Sign Fenerbahce Center Armando Bacot

Maccabi Tel Aviv is currently negotiating with Armando Bacot, the 26-year-old center who played last season for Fenerbahce, as it seeks to strengthen its roster for the 2026/2027 basketball season. Bacot, standing 2.08 meters tall, has been on Maccabi's radar for some time, and after exploring other options, the club has renewed its focus on him. If signed, Bacot is expected to be the second foreign center in the team's rotation under coach Oded Katash.

Bacot joined Fenerbahce last summer, marking his first European club after five seasons at the University of North Carolina Tar Heels and a year in the NBA G League with the Memphis Hustle. Despite strong college and G League stats, averaging 16.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, his EuroLeague performance was modest, with averages of 2.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in 10 minutes over 26 games. In the Turkish league, he posted 6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 17.5 minutes per game, shooting nearly 50% from the field.

Notably, Bacot has not appeared in a Turkish league game for Fenerbahce since April 7, 2026, against Hapoel Tel Aviv. Maccabi Tel Aviv is actively pursuing two centers for the upcoming season, and Bacot remains a key candidate as the club finalizes its roster moves.