Keith Langford vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv in Hapoel Jerusalem • Donte Smith joins forces with Danny Franco in Nahariya municipalities • And Glen Rice Jr. arrives to rescue Maccabi Ashdod from relegation Bright

• Rice Jr. Already reached financial understandings

  Photo: 

  Alan Shaver

In ten days (Sunday, June 21st), the Premier League season will resume, and just before we enter the final line-up of preparations, we've decided to stop and tell you about the five big and interesting deals that didn't work out in the last transfer window, but certainly ignite the imagination.

Keith Langford (36) for Hapoel Jerusalem

Long days during the window, John Holland did not appear to be returning, so Hapoel Jerusalem heads prepared some contingency plans. The first to get a call was Keith Langford's agent, who has a good relationship with the people of Jerusalem. 

The veteran scorer excelled this season twice against the Reds in the AFC Athens uniform in the FIBA ​​Champions League, and remained vacant after the Greek League's early finish. Fargo.

As we published in "Israel Today", Jammer Galli of Gilboa / Galilee was also on target, but the Netherlands was convinced to return, and searches for a possible replacement were stopped.

Donte Smith (36) to Nahariya

The previous deal is perhaps the biggest and most impressive on the list, but in terms of the potential for noise that would arise - this deal, which was almost a success, probably had no less hype.

Nahariya city coach Danny Franco wanted to join forces with the most significant foreigner (and some would say the best) to play here in the last decade - Donte Smith. The Forward led Maccabi Haifa and Hapoel Jerusalem to first championships in their history, and was engraved in the history books of Israeli basketball. At his age, he may not be as good as he used to be, but surely he could have brought Nahariya to heights. 

Maccabi Haifa also fumbled for the beloved ex, but encountered the same obstacle that prevented the deal with Nahariya - the money. All players who played this year in France received a salary supplement from the local government, but were obliged to call until 30.6. To release Smith from the Paris contract to Blois (the team that Tomer Garden signed this week), a high sum of money was needed, which both Nahariya and Haifa could not meet.

Glen Rice Jr. (29) for Maccabi Ashdod

If Donte Smith is the most significant player of the last decade, Glenn Rice Jr. is surely the most exciting and interesting player to have been here in many years. So what if he played a total of 19 league games and four Cup games here? 

The tremendous ability, the slightly bizarre behavior, the victory basket in the Cup final against Maccabi Tel Aviv and the beating with Guy Panini, left a big seal here. 

In this window he was very close to Maccabi Ashdod, and the parties had already reached financial understandings. The club was the one who thought the only chance of being relegated would be through such a talented player, but eventually the team leaders shied away from the move and decided to give up.

By the way, during the season he was staying in Israel and asked to join Hapoel RG / Givatayim to play with his friend Kevin Capers.

Kendrick Ray (26) for Hapoel Tel Aviv

One ex of the Maccabi Tel Aviv found himself in one big rival (Fargo in Jerusalem), and not far away that another Ex was a sign in the urban rivalry, creating another spicy encounter.

The Reds wanted Kendrick Ray, who played last season on the yellow side, and left Yad Eliyahu after a few disappointing months, and had already approached his agent, Dove Pick. The Guard debated whether to sign but eventually refused. A few days later, Jordan Davies was signed to complete the back line alongside Sc Henry.

Calif Wyatt (29) for Maccabi Haifa

Carmel was also close to an exciting stamping of a very familiar face. When the Greens were looking for a guard to replace Gregory Vargas, they turned to ex Holon and Ness Ziona, who last season played in the Philippines (16.3 points per game) and Brimes from the French League. 

Despite the goodwill, the player was not interested in returning to Israel (perhaps following the unpleasant saga with Hapoel Holon), and Andrew Andrews signed in his place.