Daniel Theis Nears Maccabi Move After ASVEL Deal Falls Through

Daniel Theis is now targeting Maccabi Tel Aviv. The German center is in advanced talks with the Israeli club, according to BasketNews, after his move to ASVEL Villeurbanne stalled due to financial issues at the French club.

Theis's situation is another sign of the complicated summer ASVEL is experiencing. Tony Parker had confirmed at the end of June that the player would be part of the new project, although the signing was never officially announced. Now, with the budget revised and several moves blocked, some of the important names linked to the club are seeking other options.

The clearest precedent was Sylvain Francisco, who had signed with ASVEL and ended up moving to Panathinaikos. Theis could follow a similar path: he never made his debut in Villeurbanne and already has Maccabi as a more advanced option.

The 34-year-old German interior, standing 2.06 meters tall, comes off competing with Monaco, where he delivered immediate impact after his return from the NBA. In the 2025/26 EuroLeague season, he played 38 games, averaging 9.7 points and 5 rebounds. A year earlier, in 2024/25, he had posted 11.7 points and 5.5 rebounds in 15 games and helped the Monegasque team reach the EuroLeague final.

Maccabi is looking to add experience, toughness, and reliability to its interior game. Theis is not a future prospect, but an established player, accustomed to competing at the highest level and with NBA experience at franchises like the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers.

The deal is not yet closed, but it is well on track. ASVEL loses ground in the market again, and Maccabi can seize the opportunity to land a proven interior without waiting too long.