Hapoel Tel Aviv: Kessler Edwards deal ahead of EuroLeague deadline
Hapoel Tel Aviv are stepping up their moves ahead of the EuroLeague transfer deadline as they are in the final stages of a deal with 25-year-old forward Kessler Edwards.
According to Israeli reports, the team of Dimitris Itoudis is turning to the case of the American ace, after the failed attempt to acquire Nigel Hayes-Davies and the waiting period surrounding the case of Dario Saric. Edwards is set to significantly strengthen the line of talls and forwards ahead of a demanding run in Europe and Israel.
Road race for EuroLeague declaration
The deadline for registration of players who have not played in Euroleague Basketball events this year ends next week. This means that Hapoel’s technical staff will have to move immediately to integrate the player into the roster and make him available for the final stretch of the regular season.
The team is currently 16-11, a record that puts them in sixth place in the standings, just inside the spots that lead directly to the Playoffs in 2026. The distance from the Play-In zone is just half a win, while they are 2.5 games away from the top eight.
Steady run in the Israeli league
On the domestic front, Hapoel have 32 points and a 15-2 record in the Winner League, but trail leaders Maccabi Rapid Tel Aviv at 15-1.
The battle for the top is expected to be tough until the finale of the regular season, with the management seeking further qualitative upgrading of the roster.
Profile of Kessler Edwards
Kessler Edwards was selected No. 44 in the 2021 NBA Draft by the Brooklyn Nets out of Pepperdine College. In his professional career he has played in 186 NBA games with the Nets, Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks.
This season he plays in the G League with the Grand Rapids Gold, averaging 15.1 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, showing stability and athleticism that can provide solutions on both ends of the floor.
His potential move to Europe and the EuroLeague represents a new chapter in his career, with Hapoel betting on his talent and energy to boost their ambitions at a pivotal point in the season.
*Text edited by Stelios Eliodorou
