Nigel Hayes-Davis is now a free agent after the Milwaukee Bucks waived him. His time in the NBA seems already over, and many EuroLeague teams would love to bring him back to Europe, but Fenerbahce, Panathinaikos, and Zalgiris would be among the best landing spots for the American forward.
After winning the EuroLeague title last season with Fenerbahce, Nigel Hayes-Davis fulfilled another long-held dream: returning to the NBA.
Before arriving in Europe in the summer of 2018, the American player had only played a few NBA games, signing several 10-day contracts with the Knicks, Raptors, and Lakers.
Within a few years, his career in Europe took off, culminating in Fenerbahce's EuroLeague title.
Last summer, the former Wisconsin product signed a one-year minimum salary contract with the Phoenix Suns.
Hayes-Davis' desire to return to the United States was so strong that the former Fenerbahce player turned down much more lucrative offers in Europe.
However, his return to the NBA was less exciting than he might have expected. With Phoenix, Hayes-Davis saw very little playing time, appearing in only 27 games and averaging just over 7 minutes per game.
Recently, the Phoenix Suns traded him to the Milwaukee Bucks, who immediately waived him.
At this point, many are wondering whether Hayes-Davis will immediately return to Europe, where interest in him remains high.
For several months, many EuroLeague teams have been monitoring the forward's situation to see if he would be available to return to Europe.
That's why I decided to see which landing spots would be the most interesting for Hayes-Davis if he were to return to the EuroLeague.
Hapoel Tel Aviv
Ofer Yannay, owner of Hapoel Tel Aviv, has been vocal about his desire to bring Nigel Hayes-Davis to Israel last summer.
Yannay has stated in several interviews that Hapoel had reached a preliminary agreement with the player before an NBA offer lured him away.
Now that Hayes-Davis is back on the market, it is very likely that Hapoel will make another attempt to sign the player.
Credit Image – Scanpix
Especially at this time of season, when the Israeli team is struggling, adding a player of Hayes-Davis' caliber, who has shown he can be one of the best players in the EuroLeague, would be a significant move for Hapoel.
Yannay has demonstrated a willingness to spend heavily on top-tier targets; for Hayes-Davis, such an investment would undoubtedly be justified.
In addition, Nigel Hayes-Davis is represented by the agency Network Sports, which has strong ties to Hapoel Tel Aviv.
The Greek-based agency already represents Dimitris Itoudis, Collin Malcolm, Antonio Blakeney, and Daniel Oturu.
Panathinaikos Athens
Another owner who is always on the lookout for big signings is Dimitris Giannakopoulos. Panathinaikos is not having an easy time, and results, especially in the EuroLeague, have been sluggish so far.
The owner of the Greek club revealed on social media a couple of weeks ago that he was working to bring a top player to Panathinaikos.
Hayes-Davis was immediately mentioned among the candidates by the Greek media, and now that the American player is a free agent, it is almost certain that Panathinaikos will attempt to sign him.
As a versatile finisher and elite on-ball defender, Hayes-Davis could provide the necessary spark to restore Panathinaikos' status as a title contender.
For Ergin Ataman, adding such a dynamic weapon at the forward positions would introduce much-needed unpredictability to an offense that has recently stagnated.
Fenerbahce Istanbul
They say you always return to where you were happy, so it's hard not to imagine Nigel Hayes-Davis returning to Fenerbahce in the future.
In Istanbul, the American player established himself as an elite talent and secured nearly every possible accolade.
Leaving Fenerbahce last summer was not an easy decision for Hayes-Davis; while the club fought to retain him, the desire to return to the NBA proved irresistible.
Now that his stint in the NBA seems to have already come to an end, a return to Istanbul to play under coach Jasikevicius—who recently extended his contract—would be both a poetic and strategic move.
It would bolster Fenerbahce's roster for the stretch run as they seek to defend their EuroLeague title.
Credit Pau Barrena/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images
Dubai Basketball
Despite being a newcomer to Europe's top competition, Dubai immediately established itself as an ambitious and formidable competitor.
The Middle Eastern club possesses both the capital and the appeal to make a compelling offer for the American forward.
After all, last summer, Dubai managed to lure Dzanan Musa away from Real Madrid, and previously persuaded Davis Bertans to leave the NBA.
At the moment, Dubai is fighting for a place in the play-in, but with a player like Hayes-Davis on the roster, they could reasonably target a deep playoff run.
Zalgiris Kaunas
Zalgiris Kaunas is another familiar destination for Hayes-Davis, who spent two seasons there between 2019 and 2021.
In his first season in Lithuania, Hayes-Davis worked with Sarunas Jasikevicius, immediately building a good relationship.
Now at the helm of Zalgiris Kaunas is Tomas Masiulis, a long-time assistant under Jasikevicius who is currently guiding the team's postseason push.
Credit BNS
Adding a player of Hayes-Davis' caliber would provide the necessary firepower to solidify their playoff standing and energize an ever-passionate fan base.
A return to Kaunas would be another romantic scenario, particularly if Hayes-Davis is open to a more modest financial package.
Orazio Cauchi
Orazio Cauchi started his career in basketball at 21, having worked for several years at Sportando as the lead writer of the website. He also covered several live events, including the Euroleague Final Four, Italian Cups, Serie A league finals, and EuroBasket. He also contributed to American media, such as LibertyBallers and Def Pen Hoops. Cauchi joined BasketNews in 2021 as a Staff Writer. Holds a degree in Politics & International Relations.
About author
Thank you for being with us! Subscribe to BN+ and browse ad-free.