We are in the last third of July, the Israeli Basketball League will open in early October, and this is a good time to examine the status of the rosters of the leading teams and find out who has the advantage already at this stage.
Maccabi Tel Aviv:
Precisely the team that had to rebuild everything, really starting from scratch, is the first to be ready for the season, having finished building the squad with no less than ten signings made by the Yellows during the summer.
On the other hand, Maccabi is a mystery.
With a new-old coach and a fundamental revolution, the big question is how it will all come together into a team.
And notice the strange phenomenon: the team is ready, but an assistant coach to encourage Katsch, no.
The new-old professional team of Maccabi Tel Aviv, Photo: Alan Shiber
Hapoel Jerusalem:
All last summer, team fans grumbled and the media wondered why the Reds were so delayed in building the squad.
Only near the end of August did the triple foreign signing (which later failed) arrive one day closing the roster.
This summer in Jerusalem they did their homework and are in a much more advanced state than last season.
Although they have lost a significant anchor like Suleiman Braimo, all the back line wreaths have already been signed.
In the Israeli sector, the intriguing Oz Blazer and Gilad Levy arrived, Dovrat and Segev continue.
With the Reds, the situation is very reasonable: the team is missing 2-3 foreigners in the home positions (depending on the decision whether there will be five or six foreigners on the roster) and one or two more Israelis - when there is a good chance of Michael Brisker signing.
Hapoel Jerusalem coach Alexander Djikic, Photo: Udi Citiat
Hapoel Holon:
The Purples have learned that the championship title promises nothing.
Holon is not having an easy summer, but it should be remembered that it has a huge backing after its two anchors, Joe Ragland and Chris Johnson, continue in the team, and CG Harris returns to the club, and despite the difficulties, the basis for the staff for next season already exists.
Holon encountered unexpected problems this summer.
Guy Pnini and Rafi Manko have left, and the champion is having a hard time trying to recruit replacements: Jake Cohen has not been released from Maccabi Tel Aviv, Gabi Chachashvili will play in Europe and Nimrod Levy, who was already closed, has regretted it.
But despite everything, Holon did manage to add a senior Israeli, in the form of Sean Dawson, but will need at least one more and two more foreigners.
In short, there is more work to be done.
Sean Dawson.
Moved to Holon, Photo: Alan Shiber
Hapoel Tel Aviv:
The Reds made a big noise this summer following Tomer Ginat's decision to return home and not sign with the city rival.
This was added to the change that the Reds are undergoing - early readiness, after in recent years the staff built in the summer underwent quite a few changes during the season.
Construction began last season with the renewal of contracts for coach Danny Franco, Bar Timor, JP Tokoto and later Jacoben Brown.
In addition, Idan Zalmanson, Gil Benny and Lotan Amsalem also continue in the group.
One foreigner was signed: Xavier Monford.
What is missing from Hapoel to complete the roster are the signings of the foreign forward and center.
Tomer Ginat.
Made a lot of noise, Photo: Liron Moldovan
Bnei Herzliya:
The runner-up did not even make a single change this summer, and even lost a rotation player (Dawson), and yet, is in good shape.
how is it possible?
Herzliya has a rare situation, probably for a team at the level of these budgets - 7 players continue, with four of them foreign.
The team from Sharon is concentrating on the very difficult task - finding a replacement for Chinano Onwako.
At the same time, she is waiting for the decision of Gal Makal (the most interesting free game left in the market, which is also in demand at Hapoel Haifa), if that does not work, she will go for another senior Israeli.
Zofi Abdia.
Herzliya managed to keep the staff, Photo: Alan Shiber
And a concluding sentence:
Finally, Israeli basketball has begun to understand the importance of continuity.
Were we wrong?
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