By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
The shockwaves from Maccabi Tel Aviv’s semifinal defeat in the Israeli league are forcing the club to react after its worst season in history.
Coach Zan Tabak is expected to be released and Maccabi is trying again to lure to Israel coach Giorgos Bartzokas. After their initial contacts there was no deal, but now things change again, even if Bartzokas is also a candidate for Barcelona and Anadolu Efes, while Lokomotiv Kuban is also trying to keep him in Russia.
Maccabi‘s shortlist also includes Lithuanian champ and club legend Sarunas Jasikevicius, who is in close contacts with Barcelona. Andrea Trinchieri – who has a contract with Brose Baskets for next season – also interests the team and the names of Jonas Kazlauskas and Rimas Kurtinaitis complete the list.
Meanwhile with Sonny Weems already signed as he confirmed in Eurohoops, D.J.Seeley who started the season in Besiktas and finished in Gran Canaria is also expected to sign with the team, as numerous Israeli media confirm.
As first reported by @RoeyGladstone from @sport5il D.J Seeley will wear the Yellow and Blue next year as well.. The Maccabi Yellow and Blue
— Moses (@MosesB1) June 6, 2016
This can be just the start, since the owner of the clubs want to react after this season and raise the bugdet of the team towards $25 m., which will be a record number in the history of Maccabi. Still, with the new Euroleague format and the need to bounce back, Maccabi is ready to spend much more than usual.