Hapoel Tel Aviv is setting its sights high this offseason, with club owner Ofer Yannay making it clear that signing veteran guard Vasilije Micic is at the top of the team’s agenda.
The Serbian playmaker, who has spent the past season in the NBA, is a marquee target for the Israeli club as they aim to make a major statement in European basketball.
“The goal is to sign him for next season,” Yannay stated emphatically. “I told him I’d make him the highest-paid player in Europe. No one else will offer him $5 million, but I’m ready. That’s the kind of deal you break the bank for.”
Micic, a two-time EuroLeague champion and Final Four MVP, is currently under contract with the Phoenix Suns, having been traded from the Charlotte Hornets before the deadline.
The Suns hold an $8.1 million team option on him for next season, leaving some uncertainty about his immediate future. If Phoenix declines that option, they could extend a qualifying offer to make him a restricted free agent – but only within the NBA.
Outside of the league, Micic would be free to sign anywhere without restriction, opening the door for Hapoel Tel Aviv to make their move.
Yannay, however, is not waiting for the Suns’ decision to make his intentions known. He has been working behind the scenes for weeks to convince Micic that a return to Europe – specifically to Hapoel – is the right move for him.
“It’s an ongoing process. I’ve been pursuing him for a month and a half,” Yannay revealed. “He misses the passion of European basketball and the camaraderie of a fighting unit. He’s grown tired of the NBA routine and loves the story of Hapoel.”
The Serbian guard has spoken in the past about his deep connection to European basketball, where he built his reputation as one of the continent’s elite floor generals.
While his NBA stint has given him a taste of the world’s top league, there have been questions about whether he feels truly at home in that environment.
Yannay is banking on that sentiment to lure Micic back, promising him not only financial security but also a leading role in a team that values his style of play and leadership.
With an offer that could make him the highest-paid player in Europe, Hapoel Tel Aviv is making its most ambitious push yet to bring a star of Micic’s caliber into their ranks.
Hapoel Tel Aviv Hopes To Sign Vasilije Micic This Offseason https://t.co/UWlOQms4kp
— RealGM (@RealGM) March 4, 2025
