Hapoel Jerusalem Nears Signing Former Lakers Guard Shake Milton

Hapoel Jerusalem is close to finalizing the signing of American guard Shake Milton, who played last season for Partizan Belgrade and previously appeared with the Los Angeles Lakers. The club is in advanced negotiations and expects to complete the deal soon, according to reports from the Israeli sports site One. Jerusalem sought an additional guard to strengthen their backcourt for the 2026/27 season after Wendell Moore Jr. was no longer an option. Milton, 29 years old and 1.96 meters tall, would join a roster already bolstered by recent signings including Kenny Lofton Jr., David Roddy, and Jaylen Smith, with Dusan Milojicic also expected to join.

Milton's last season in Europe was with Partizan Belgrade, marking his first professional experience outside the United States. He was selected 54th overall in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers and initially played in their development league team. During the 2023/24 NBA season, Milton played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, and Brooklyn Nets before finishing with the Lakers. His move to Hapoel Jerusalem signals the club's ambitions to win the EuroCup and secure a EuroLeague spot for the 2027/28 season. While the contract has not yet been signed, the negotiations are reportedly very close to completion.