Hapoel Tel Aviv Signs Tamir Blatt, Plans Loan Move Amid Staff Disagreement

Hapoel Tel Aviv announced on August 3, 2026, the signing of point guard Tamir Blatt. Blatt will earn a base salary of $1.1 million per season plus an additional $500,000 in shares. However, due to differing opinions within the coaching staff about his signing, the club plans to loan him out for the first season.

Blatt himself prefers to play regularly and, despite being allowed to participate in the training camp to prove himself, he recognizes limited playing time opportunities in the current backcourt lineup. Therefore, the primary option is to find him a loan destination. Two newly formed teams in Rome, SPQR led by Luka Dončić and Maxima, both competing in the EuroCup, have expressed interest. Additionally, Villeurbanne, a EuroLeague team, is also interested.

Negotiations were primarily handled by Hapoel Tel Aviv CEO Ofer Yanai, who personally managed discussions with Blatt's agent, Mishko Rezentovic, and Blatt's family. After extensive talks, the parties reached an agreement. At this stage, coach George Hinas and part of the professional staff have spoken with Blatt.

In the previous EuroLeague season, Blatt averaged 7.1 points per game with shooting percentages of 40.5% from two-point range and 38.5% from three-point range, alongside 5.2 assists and 2.3 turnovers in 19 minutes and 25 seconds per game. His assist-to-turnover ratio stood at a solid 2.26. The loan move aims to provide him with more significant playing time to develop further.