Hapoel Jerusalem have made an opening bid to bring former Denver Nuggets forward David Roddy to the Israeli capital, offering the 25-year-old American a contract worth approximately $2.2 million over two years, according to a report published in Israel on Sunday evening. Roddy is said to have rejected that first proposal, but the two sides remain in negotiations.
The report, by a named Israeli basketball correspondent, indicates that Jerusalem view the rejection as a step in an ongoing negotiation rather than the end of the pursuit, and that the club is continuing its effort to close a deal. No other outlet has yet confirmed the talks, and neither the club nor the player has commented publicly.
Roddy, a 6-foot-5 forward built more like a linebacker than a wing, was one of the most decorated college players in the country at Colorado State, where he was named Mountain West Player of the Year in 2022. Philadelphia selected him with the 23rd overall pick in that summer's NBA draft before trading his rights to Memphis on draft night.
What followed was a well-travelled four-year NBA career: two seasons with the Grizzlies, a February 2024 trade to Phoenix, a stint in Atlanta, a brief return to Philadelphia on 10-day and two-way deals, a two-way contract in Houston and, this past March, a two-way agreement with Denver. Across 181 NBA regular-season games he averaged 6.3 points and 2.9 rebounds, and per the Israeli report he contributed 8.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in five appearances for the Nuggets last season.
The pursuit fits the shape of Jerusalem's summer. The club has appointed veteran Serbian coach Sasa Obradovic, who led Monaco to the 2023 EuroLeague Final Four, on a contract running through 2028-29, and has formally applied for a two-year EuroLeague license ahead of the shareholders' decision on the 2026-27 field. For now, the team is preparing for another BKT EuroCup campaign.
Domestically, Jerusalem are trying to close the gap on the Tel Aviv powers after a season that ended in frustration: a third-place finish in the Winner League regular season at 18-8 was followed by a semi-final exit against Hapoel Tel Aviv, while Maccabi Tel Aviv went on to claim the championship. The roster rebuild is already under way, with big man Devontae Cacok among the arrivals on a two-year deal.
An outlay in the region of $2.2 million for a single player would signal serious financial ambition by Israeli league standards, and landing a 25-year-old with 181 NBA games behind him would be a statement of intent to match the club's European aspirations. With the first offer rebuffed and talks continuing, the coming days should show whether Jerusalem are willing to raise their bid.
