Every plan is a basis for changes, claims the famous military saying, and judging by the last two weeks in Maccabi Tel Aviv, that is probably the way things are.
When coach Oded Ketch presented the shiny new squad at the club's season opening event, he did not believe that a few days later he would have to return to the free agent market and start finding solutions after a wonderful summer in which he closed the squad early.
The injury of Darren Hilliard, who was diagnosed with a knee injury that will keep him out of action for the next few weeks, along with the medical condition of Austin Hollins, who is busy with the team, forced the Yellows to act quickly - and when the name of former Hapoel Jerusalem Jaylen Adams came up, Maccabi Tel Aviv rushed and made the deal was signed.
Against Maccabi last season.
Soon in yellow, photo: Oded Karni
The guard will bring to Eliyahu a diverse basket of offensive tools that will help encourage Ketch, and solve some of the problems that troubled the yellows at the beginning of the season.
Adams will provide offensive firepower, stable shooting (40% for three in the Champions League last year), as well as versatile teams alongside Lorenzo Brown or Wade Baldwin, when he is in position 2 and they are coordinators and play managers.
"His work ethic hurt him badly"
Despite known problems in the defensive game, there is no denying the talent of the American guard.
However, a look at his past indicates a number of question marks that hover over his head into a disturbing question - how a player at the age of 26, who should be at his peak, is unable to find a team and sits at home deep into the month of October.
"With Jaylen, the problem was never the talent, but the attitude to the game. He sees it as a game - but it is a profession. A player with a skill set like his should have been in completely different places, but his work ethic hurt him badly," he told Israel Today" is a factor that hides in the details.
After a personally good season in Jerusalem, Adams gained interest and hoped to be upgraded, however, stories about his character and the fact that he did not succeed in a demanding environment are many.
"In France he got a chance, but it didn't work out and he left for the development league after only seven games. He didn't really like training, for him the game was the main thing," says a source in France.
Adams and Ragland.
A little trash talk, photo: Alan Shiver
During the month of September, the player saw that tempting offers were not coming, and began to seriously consider moving to the Chinese league, a league that is considered less competitive but with high amounts of money.
Visa problems prevented this option from being implemented.
Also, Adams' name was mentioned a few weeks ago by the champion Hapoel Holon, which was looking for a guard following the injury of CJ Harris, but there they decided to go for a more experienced foreigner.
Many of the Hapoel Jerusalem fans, who called for the return of the player who starred in the capital last season, were disappointed to hear that he is not expected to continue, however, those who know Aleksandar Džikić and his ways, knew in advance that a player of Adams' type and character would not get along with the Serbian's method.
Like the butterfly effect, an injury in Tel Aviv affected the future of one American in Boston.
Adams decided to bet on himself in the summer, a bet that until a few days ago seemed puzzling.
Now the guard gets the biggest opportunity in his career to showcase his skills, but he will have to prove that he is mature enough and committed to the challenge.
Jaylen Adams.
The butterfly effect affected him, photo: Maor Alxalsi
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