By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
There is a done deal between Saben Lee and Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, according to Eurohoops sources.
With 150,000 dollars, The Yellows are buying out his contract with Manisa to complete the transfer. The agreed salary countered the player’s initial concerns.
With fellow Turkish Airlines EuroLeague outfit Fenerbahce Beko considering other options to replace injured Scottie Wilbekin on the roster, the Israeli club focused on Lee and finally secured his services.
The explosive point guard is likely to play for the Turkish club against FMP Soccerbet in Gameday 2 of the Basketball Champions League Regular Season on Wednesday, before joining Maccabi.
Done deal between Saben Lee and Maccabi. Manisa will get a buyout of 150k and Lee is getting a salary that made him forget his concerns about the situation in the region.
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— Aris Barkas (@arbarkas) October 7, 2024
Lee, 25, joined Manisa during the offseason, following 134 appearances in the NBA over the last four years. A brilliant display in his BCL debut, scoring 36 points behind 10/14 from the field lifted Manisa over UCAM Murcia in Palacio de Deportes. Following an overtime win in Gameday 1 of the BCL Regular Season on Tuesday, he had 12 points and six assists in a losing effort against Bursaspor in Round 1 of the Turkiye Sigorta Basketbol Super Ligi on Saturday.
Coming out of Vanderbilt in 2020, he was selected by the Utah Jazz with the 38th overall pick of the NBA draft. He was subsequently traded to the Detroit Pistons and was featured in 85 NBA games over the next two years. Spells with the Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns painted the two most recent campaigns of his professional career.
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League