Tamir Blatt Signs Three-Year Deal with Hapoel Tel Aviv, Expected to Be Loaned in Europe

Hapoel Tel Aviv announced on Monday the signing of Israeli point guard Tamir Blatt to a three-year contract worth $1.6 million. However, for the upcoming season, Blatt is expected to be loaned to another European team. This move follows a prolonged negotiation with Maccabi Tel Aviv, who declined to meet Blatt's salary demands, leading to his departure. Maccabi quickly replaced him with Yam Madar, who signed a lucrative contract, while Blatt made the reverse move to Hapoel Tel Aviv.

Hapoel Tel Aviv's roster already includes notable players such as Vasilye Micić, Tomas Satoransky, Antonio Blakeney, Kadin Carrington, Elijah Bryant, Bar Timor, and Tyler Ennis, under coach Dimitris Itoudis. The team is also expected to add another senior guard. The coaching staff informed Blatt that he would serve as the fourth point guard in the EuroLeague squad, a role he found unsatisfactory, which contributed to the agreement for a loan arrangement.

Blatt previously played for Hapoel Tel Aviv from 2014 to 2017, including a loan to Hapoel Ramat Hasharon, and later for Hapoel Holon, Hapoel Jerusalem (two stints), and Alba Berlin before joining Maccabi Tel Aviv in summer 2023. Last season, Blatt averaged 9.6 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game in the Israeli league, alongside 7.1 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 5.2 assists in the EuroLeague.