By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Maccabi Tel Aviv’s frontline is going to get a makeover with the additions of forward TJ Leaf and center Josh Nebo, per Moshe Barda.
Leaf had been a Maccabi target for years but the two sides never came close to reaching a deal until now. The 25-year-old player will be making his debut in Europe after spending four seasons in the NBA with the Indiana Pacers (2018, 2019, 2020) and the Portland Trail Blazers (2021), plus one year in China as a member of the Guangzhou Loong Lions.
Thanks to a very solid debut run in EuroLeague with Zalgiris Kaunas, 24-year-old Nebo was eyed by several clubs, including back-to-back champions Anadolu Efes. Maccabi will now land the American center and bring him back to Israel following his first pro year with Hapoel Eilat.
After bringing legend David Blatt as a consultant and hiring Oded Kattash as head coach, Maccabi has been quite active in the market, signing wing Darrun Hilliard, forward Bonzie Colson and big man Alex Poythress. The team is also close to acquiring guard Austin Hollins and guard Lorenzo Brown.