NBA free agent forward Nigel Hayes-Davis has suddenly become the hottest commodity on the EuroLeague market.
After being traded from Phoenix to Milwaukee and subsequently waived at the February 5 trade deadline, the 31-year-old Hayes-Davis is weighing a return to Europe, where he was last seen dominating in Fenerbahce's 2025 title run.
Three clubs initially emerged as possible landing spots, but one has already bowed out. Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens made a lucrative offer, only to be rejected by the player.
With the Greek giants out of the picture, the focus shifts to the two remaining contenders: Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv and Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul.
Both clubs have reportedly been in contact with Hayes-Davis's camp, with Hapoel being the frontrunner for the signing.
The burning question is – could Hayes-Davis be the final missing piece that makes either team the favorite to lift the EuroLeague trophy?
Hapoel: Ambition meets opportunity
Credit Rokas Lukosevicius
For Hapoel Tel Aviv, a newcomer in this year's EuroLeague, signing Hayes-Davis would represent a bold statement of intent.
The Israeli club earned promotion by winning the 2025 EuroCup and then flexed its financial muscle in the offseason with several high-profile signings – most notably EuroLeague superstar Vasilije Micic on a record-breaking deal.
Coached by Dimitris Itoudis, Hapoel raced out to a strong start and even sat atop the EuroLeague standings at 16-6.
Lately, however, the team has hit turbulence. A four-game EuroLeague losing streak (dropping them to 16-10) – plus an additional domestic defeat – has underlined some roster shortcomings and ramped up the pressure.
Why would this signing matter now?
As Hapoel's slump grows, so does the incentive to make a season-altering move.
The club has the resources and ambition to act, and Hayes-Davis is precisely the caliber of player who could get their campaign back on a championship trajectory.
One clear issue for Hapoel has been depth at the forward spots. For much of the season, forwards Ish Wainright and Collin Malcolm have been among the team's leaders in minutes, reflecting a lack of high-end options in the frontcourt rotation.
While those players have performed admirably, neither provides the star-level two-way impact that a title contender typically needs at the forward position. Enter Hayes-Davis – arguably one of the EuroLeague's elite two-way forwards.
With versatility on both ends, he is a proven elite defender who can guard multiple positions, and offensively, he would instantly become a focal point.
During the 2024-25 EuroLeague season, Hayes-Davis averaged 16.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting a sharp 41% from three-point range.
He can score in a variety of ways – spotting up from the perimeter, attacking off the dribble, or posting up smaller defenders – and his efficiency (45.6% from the field overall) forces defenses to pick their poison.
Adding that kind of production would address Hapoel's occasional scoring droughts and open up space for their other stars.
Championship background
Just as importantly, Hayes-Davis brings championship pedigree and clutch experience to a club aiming to make the leap from upstart to true contender.
He was the EuroLeague Final Four MVP in 2025 after leading Fenerbahce to the title, and he's no stranger to high-pressure moments.
Hapoel's current core, while talented, is still jelling together in their first EuroLeague season.
Bringing in a player who has "been there and done that" on the biggest stage could be transformational in tight playoff games down the stretch.
Imagine a Hapoel lineup featuring Micic (a two-time EuroLeague champion himself) orchestrating the offense, Elijah Bryant and Antonio Blakeney providing scoring punch from the backcourt, while Hayes-Davis slotting in as the do-it-all forward.
That unit would boast an exceptional balance of playmaking, shooting, size, and defensive grit.
It's the kind of lineup that could go toe-to-toe with any of the traditional EuroLeague powerhouses. Indeed, Hapoel's financial might means they can afford to make this happen.
With four straight losses serving as a wake-up call, the stars are aligning for Hapoel to make a game-changing addition. Hayes-Davis could be the missing piece that transforms them from a dark-horse into a bona fide EuroLeague title favorite.
Fenerbahce: The path toward an MVP reunion
Credit Pau Barrena/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images
If Hayes-Davis instead returns to Fenerbahce, it would be less a bold new experiment and more a reunion of proven champions.
Fener sit comfortably atop the EuroLeague standings at 19-7, looking every bit like the powerhouse one would expect from the reigning EuroLeague champions.
Under head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius, the Turkish club has been on a tear – they have reloaded after last season's triumph and currently hold first place with a multi-game cushion.
It's a testament to their depth and quality that Fenerbahce has thrived even after losing Hayes-Davis to the NBA over the summer.
Now, they have an opportunity to bring back the very player who was the catalyst of their title run, potentially making an already dominant team even better.
Seamless fit, instant impact
Hayes-Davis's history with Fenerbahce and Coach Jasikevicius cannot be overstated. He spent three seasons in Istanbul (2022-2025) and enjoyed a historic 2024-25 campaign where Fenerbahce achieved the coveted Triple Crown – winning the EuroLeague, Turkish BSL, and Turkish Cup titles.
Hayes-Davis was at the center of it all: he earned EuroLeague Final Four MVP honors in 2025 after posting 23 points and 9 rebounds in the championship game and leading Fener to its second-ever EuroLeague title.
Jasikevicius, for his part, was named Coach of the Year for orchestrating that run.
The familiarity and chemistry between player and coach mean a mid-season reintegration should be seamless. Hayes-Davis already knows Jasikevicius' system and demands – in fact, he has played under Saras not only at Fenerbahce but also earlier in his career during a stint at Zalgiris Kaunas.
This mutual trust and understanding would allow Fenerbahce to plug Hayes-Davis back into the lineup with a minimal adjustment period, a scary proposition for the rest of the league.
The difference maker
From a roster standpoint, adding Hayes-Davis would address Fenerbahce's lone conceivable weakness and elevate their ceiling to new heights.
Even as they lead the standings, Fener's forward rotation could use an upgrade in star power. Insert Hayes-Davis, and suddenly he becomes the best forward on the team – a two-way force to anchor the frontcourt.
He would bring defensive versatility to switch across multiple positions, length on the perimeter to disrupt opposing scorers, and an offensive skill set that perfectly complements Fener's style.
In many ways, Hayes-Davis was the heartbeat of Fenerbahce's championship team: a reliable scorer who could create his own shot or stretch the floor, and a defensive lynchpin often tasked with guarding the opponent's best forward. Reuniting now would effectively restore that heartbeat.
As dominant as Fenerbahce has been so far, the addition of Hayes-Davis could make them virtually unstoppable.
It's also worth noting the psychological edge Fenerbahce would gain by bringing back Hayes-Davis.
Here is a player who delivered for them on the grandest stage, someone who knows what it takes to cut down the nets in the EuroLeague.
In a season where several teams have fighting near the top of the standings, a Fenerbahce with Hayes-Davis could separate itself as the clear favorite to repeat as champions.
A critical moment in the title race
Credit Fenerbahce
At this stage, the sweepstakes for Hayes-Davis could very well tip the balance of power in the EuroLeague.
Both Hapoel Tel Aviv and Fenerbahce Istanbul offer compelling situations and deep pockets, and both see Hayes-Davis as the missing piece to a championship puzzle.
In Tel Aviv, he would be the game-changer that elevates an ambitious underdog into an elite contender, filling a positional need and bringing championship experience to a club craving its first EuroLeague glory.
In Istanbul, he would be the prodigal star returning to an already mighty champion, potentially ushering in a new era of dominance under Jasikevicius.
There are, of course, variables still at play – contract negotiations, personal preferences, and timing – but one thing is certain: whichever team lands Hayes-Davis will significantly enhance its title chances.
His track record in Europe speaks for itself. We are talking about a Final Four MVP, an All-EuroLeague First Team talent in his prime, and a player versatile enough to transform any lineup he joins.
Hayes-Davis's decision in the coming days could very well reshape the 2025-26 EuroLeague championship race.
If he is indeed the last missing piece, we may look back in a few months and see his signing as the move that made a champion.
Nojus Stankevičius
Nojus Stankevičius began his basketball writing journey in 2023, when he started studying Journalism at Vilnius University. In 2024, he participated in the BasketNews Academy. Then, a year later, in 2025, he officially joined BasketNews as a Daily Writer, marking the beginning of his professional career in sports journalism.
About author
Subscribe to BN+ and get access to exclusive content.
If you like our content, please click here and add us as your preferred source. It helps us a lot, and we are committed to delivering you the very latest basketball news.