The end of game number 4 in the quarterfinals of the 2022 playoffs against Maccabi Tel Aviv, even the veteran Hapoel fans, those who have already seen it all, will not soon forget.
Danny Franco's men, injured and bruised, came into the fourth game of the series with their backs against the wall, knowing that a loss would end their season sooner than expected.
In front of the home crowd that filled every corner of the Shlomo Hall, the Reds tried to come back from a 2:1 deficit in the series and force a decisive fifth game against their sworn city rival, but succumbed to a wonderful shooting night by Derrick Williams and Scotty Wilvkin, who led the Yellows to their last away victory of the season, in what would later become To the swan song for Avi Even's group.
For Hapoel Tel Aviv fans, that team, despite not winning titles, was perhaps the most exciting and special in recent years.
The team that brought back the passion, energy and enthusiasm in the eyes of everyone who surrounded that team, on the floor and in the stands.
Game 4 in the 21/22 playoffs.
will not be forgotten,
New puzzle
Despite the optimistic feelings among the crowd, the captains of the club knew very well that the team had to strengthen significantly in the summer, if it wanted to continue to progress next season as well.
As a first step already at the beginning of June forward J. was re-signed.
Pi Tokoto.
"Here you come home" was written in the excited Hapoel Tel Aviv club announcement announcing Tomer Ginat's return to the Reds after two years in France, a step that ignited the spark that began to burn in the fans but also added mountains of pressure and expectations to the team.
"The signing of Tomer was the turning point in the summer. The night before the signing, we didn't believe it would happen, it caught us by surprise too," a club official testified honestly in a conversation with Israel Hayom.
Tomer Ginat
"Caught us by surprise", photo: Alan Shiver
Three long weeks passed until the red fans got to see another "Welcome".
The veteran guard/forward Travis Warrick was added to the club and is intended to serve as a backup from the bench in place of Raz Adam who was loaned to Nes Ziona.
"Travis was not the first option for us but Danny appreciates him very much."
In those days, Warrick was even preferred over Adam Ariel who demanded much higher sums of money than the Reds agreed to pay the Israeli replacement.
Four days after the signing of Warrick, the Tel Avivites announced the addition of Xavier Manford.
The American appeared on Franco's lists from the beginning of the summer, and after the options in the form of Caleb Agade, Ratin Obasoban and Isaiah Whitehead proved unrealistic, they hurried to close with him in Hapoel.
"In Hapoel they wanted Agada very much and were close to signing him, but when it fell through, the Reds left with a heavy feeling of exploitation and a breach of trust when they received a message one morning that Caleb had signed with Promity," an international agent told Israel Hayom.
The re-signing of James Young was a saga that occupied the Reds throughout the summer, until they announced his signing at the end of July.
The club later claimed that the reason for the hesitation was the desire to monitor Young's rehabilitation from his past ankle injury, but sources privy to the details said that not necessarily professional reasons were the ones that caused reflections on Danny Franco's part.
"James is a good guy, and a talented player, but there is a reason he was selected 17th in the draft and found himself in Israel after several years. His off-field habits are not compatible with a professional player, so Hapoel Tel Aviv also allowed his contract to meet and signed him late in This summer. The injury is not the main story," revealed a senior player agent who is familiar with the details of the case.
James Young.
"There is a reason he was selected 17th in the draft and found himself in Israel,"
Finding a center was the main goal of the red professional team under Danny Franco.
Hundreds of clips and tapes were then seen by the Reds, along with many conversations with agents and an extended stay in the Vegas Summer League.
"We wanted to bring Tyreek Jones back and even offered him very respectable sums, but he is young and aspires to advance. We could not have paid him the amount of money they offered him in Turkey ($300,000 before publications)," the club will testify.
The candidacy of the center Alpha Kaba also fell through due to financial reasons, with the names of Zach Hankins and Octavius Ellis being seriously considered but not ripe for signing in the end.
Finally, the center Chris Horton was signed, who stood out in the French league and whose name appeared on the lists only late in the summer.
The puzzle has been completed, and expanded
After Horton signed with the club, they made sure to officially announce the closure of the squad.
"The last piece in the puzzle" was written in the club's official announcement, but the absence of Tomer Ginat and Idan Zalmanson along with the injuries of Bar Timur and James Young left the Reds with a thin roster and in an impressive move they landed Jaylen Howard in Israel on a contract for a month and a half with the option of an extension.
Warrick's surprising injury forced Hapoel Tel Aviv to return to the market and in a flash, Adam Ariel was signed and the circle from the beginning of the summer was closed.
Hapoel Tel Aviv model 2022/23 will arrive at the new season full of talent but also high expectations.
The signing of Tomer Ginat along with the stormy summer and participation in the Eurocup raised the bar of expectations from the team to the sky.
"We are worried about the viewers and the pressure, this season everyone's goal is a title," Tokoto stated upon his landing in Israel.
This time we know in the Hikal Shlomo group, seventh place will no longer be received with thunderous applause.
JP Tokoto after landing in Israel.
"This season everyone's goal is a title", photo: Tomer Givati
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