Daniel Theis Nears Signing With Maccabi Tel Aviv Amid Villeurbanne Financial Issues

German center Daniel Theis is reportedly close to signing with Israeli basketball powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv, according to a report by BasketNews on Saturday. The negotiations are said to be at an advanced stage, with Theis favoring the move to Maccabi despite interest from several other teams. Maccabi has intensified efforts to acquire Theis in recent days due to financial difficulties faced by his current club, Villeurbanne in France. The Israeli club is prepared to take over his contract, valued at approximately $2.5 million for the upcoming season, and offer him the starting center position.

Theis was initially expected to join Villeurbanne, with team president Tony Parker confirming the signing in late June, but the deal was never officially announced. On July 16, L'Equipe reported that Villeurbanne might operate with a significantly reduced budget for the 2026/27 season, prompting several key players to seek other options. Sylvain Francisco has already moved to Panathinaikos, and Theis appears likely to follow suit by choosing a different destination.

Maccabi Tel Aviv has been in contact with both Villeurbanne and Theis's representatives. Club sources indicate Theis is interested in relocating to Israel, and there is optimism about completing the transfer. The 34-year-old center is looking for a team where he can play a significant role, which few EuroLeague teams can currently offer. Theis returned to Europe a year and a half ago after seven NBA seasons, playing for Monaco before joining Villeurbanne. In the 2025/26 EuroLeague season, he averaged 9.7 points and 5 rebounds over 38 games, and in 2024/25, he posted 11.7 points and 5.5 rebounds in 15 games, helping his team reach the EuroLeague final. During his NBA career, Theis played 411 games, averaging 7.1 points and 4.7 rebounds, with his best season in 2019/20 at Boston, averaging 9.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.