Local champ Hapoel Jerusalem signs familiar face D’or Fischer
By ALLON SINAIUpdated: JULY 16, 2015 02:06D’or Fischer (photo credit: ASAF KLIGER)
Hapoel Jerusalem showed once more it has no intention of lagging behind Maccabi Tel Aviv in the free agency market this summer after wrapping up the signing of Israel national team center D’or Fischer on Wednesday.Maccabi has overhauled its roster following a disappointing season, already signing five new players, including NBA veteran Jordan Farmar and last season’s Euroleague top scorer Taylor Rochestie.Jerusalem won its first BSL championship last month, but is still desperate to strengthen its squad, with Fischer becoming its fourth and most significant signing of the off-season to date.The 33-year-old, who represented the national team last summer after receiving Israeli citizenship through his marriage to an Israeli, played for Maccabi Tel Aviv between 2008 and 2010 before leaving for Real Madrid.He averaged 13.1 points on 75 percent from the field and grabbed 5.7 rebounds while playing for Unics Kazan in the Euroleague regular season in 2014/15.“Welcome to the Champions, D’or Fischer.The best Israelis choose to play for the champion, Hapoel Jerusalem,” club owner Ori Allon wrote on his Facebook page.Fischer joins Yancy Gates, Josh Duncan and young Israeli Igor Mayor, who all came aboard earlier this summer, but the club is still looking at making additional signings.Gal Mekel is the No. 1 target for Jerusalem, but the Israeli guard is biding his time in the hope of receiving an offer from the NBA.