Crossing the road: Tamir Blatt signs with Hapoel Tel Aviv
A major drama in Israeli basketball: after weeks of negotiations, Hapoel Tel Aviv has announced the signing of point guard Tamir Blatt. The player is moving from bitter rivals Maccabi Tel Aviv, returning to the club where he first made his mark over a decade ago.
A major drama in Israeli basketball: after weeks of negotiations, various reports, and delays caused by internal disagreements, Hapoel Tel Aviv has announced the signing of point guard Tamir Blatt (29, 1.78 m). The player is crossing the lines from bitter rivals Maccabi Tel Aviv and returning to the club where he first broke through in his professional career over a decade ago.
A record sum for a point guard
Blatt's move is accompanied by an unprecedented financial structure in local basketball. The point guard signed a 3-season contract, under which he will earn about 1.6 million dollars per season — a sum consisting of a base salary of 1.1 million dollars and an additional half a million dollars in shares. The complex deal reflects the high professional and economic ambitions of the 'Reds' for the coming seasons.
Blatt, who in the past season averaged 7.1 points and 5.2 assists in the EuroLeague alongside 9.6 points in the Super League, is thus completing a significant full circle. After starting his 'red' path in 2014, the player continued with stops at Hapoel Holon, Hapoel Jerusalem, and Alba Berlin, before playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv for the last three years. Now, the return to the 'red' uniform marks one of the most resounding signings of the summer in the Israeli league.
