Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv head coach Oded Kattash spoke about the rumors of Wenyen Gabriel potentially joining Panathinaikos, claiming he doesn't want to lose the player and Maccabi are not obligated to release him to another team.
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv head coach Oded Kattash responded to the recent rumors about Wenyen Gabriel potentially moving to Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens.
Kattash was reluctant to consider releasing Gabriel, claiming the Israeli team is not obligated to do so.
"Just because there's interest doesn't mean we have to agree," Kattash said via Israelhayom. "In our current situation, we can't afford to release players. Quite the opposite – we're adding players and expanding our rotation."
"I can't comment on what [Ergin] Ataman said. We need to make our own decisions. As far as I'm concerned, I don't want to let him go," Kattash added.
In his rookie EuroLeague season, Gabriel averages 5.8 points (on 54% 2PT, 33.3% FT), 4.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 blocks per game. He also missed all four of his 3-point attempts.
He had his best game of the season against Bayern Munich, where he put up 16 points and grabbed 8 rebounds.
Ataman was also asked whether the reports about PAO being interested in bringing in Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv's big man Wenyen Gabriel are true.
"We have 3-4 candidates. Gabriel is one of them, but he's a Maccabi player, and we don't know if Maccabi will let him go," he confirmed.
"Our GM [Sani Becirovic] is working, and I hope tomorrow [Monday] we'll have an answer from one of our candidates. At this point, we need a player urgently. We have 3-4 names we're talking with at the same time," Ataman repeated.
Panathinaikos are looking for reinforcements after Mathias Lessort suffered a fibula fracture that will keep him from action for at least 4 months.
"I don't know if Mathias will join the team for the final part of the season. Our managers are working in the market, and I hope that in 1-2 days, maximum Tuesday, that player will be here in OAKA because we're playing a very important game this Friday and we need one more athletic center," the Turkish tactician pointed out.
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