Maccabi Tel Aviv in Advanced Talks for French Guard Kylian Hayes

Maccabi Tel Aviv is accelerating its efforts to strengthen its roster, engaging in advanced negotiations with French point guard Kylian Hayes, 25. Hayes is being considered as a potential replacement for the injured Ife Lundberg. Following recent discussions with Jamir Young and Nemanja Nedovic, the talks with Hayes appear to be the most progressed.

The team decided to expedite these negotiations after their loss on Tuesday, aiming to finalize the reinforcement quickly. Maccabi hopes to complete the deal within the next 24 hours, allowing Hayes to arrive in Israel on Friday, coinciding with the team's return from a EuroLeague double week.

Hayes, who was the seventh overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons, has played 239 NBA games, averaging 7.9 points, 5 assists, and 2.9 rebounds. His best season was in 2022/23 with Detroit, where he recorded 10.3 points, 6.2 assists, and 2.9 rebounds over 76 games. Last season, he played 23 games for the Sacramento Kings, averaging 5.5 points and 3.5 assists in 17.7 minutes per game.

Before his NBA career, Hayes played for French club Cholet and German club Ulm. If he joins Maccabi, it would mark his EuroLeague debut, requiring a rapid adaptation to the competition and his new team's demands.