Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla made the trip to Turkey to watch Fenerbahce complete a sweep of Bahcesehir (3-0) and advance to the Turkish League Finals on Monday. According to Eurohoops, Mazzulla is eyeing Nigel Hayes-Davis as a potential addition to the Celtics in 2025-26.
Hayes-Davis didn’t shine in front of Mazzulla but was one of the better players on the floor in Sunday’s 93-84 victory. Hayes-Davis was one of five Fenerbahce players in double-figures. He tallied 10 -points on 3 of 7 shooting, including 1 of 2 from deep, with seven rebounds, three assists, and one block in 15 minutes off the bench.
Former NBA Champions Among Teams Interested In 2024-25 Euroleague Final Four MVP
Fenerbahce will now await the winner of Beşiktaş-Anadolu Efes in the other TBL semifinal. Efes leads the best-of-five series 2-1 after taking Game 3 of their series 94-87 earlier today. If Efes advances to the Finals, it will mark a rematch of last year’s TBL championship, which saw Fenerbahce claim its 11th league title in four games.
Fenerbahce has had a tremendous season and is loaded with talent. Fenerbahce owns a 68-15 overall record, including 5-1 in the TBL playoffs. The Yellow Legacy have already captured the prestigious EuroLeague title and Turkish Cup this year.
According to Fenerbahce general manager Derya Yannier last month, Hayes-Davis is not the only Yellow Legacy player drawing interest from NBA teams.
“There is very serious interest from the NBA for Nigel Hayes-Davis and Tarik Biberovic,” said Yannier. “I hope they continue with us, but if they say, ‘I want to try in the NBA,’ we won’t stand in their way.
Biberovic, whose NBA rights are owned by Memphis, is reportedly pondering a move to the NBA this year. Former NBA players Wade Baldwin IV, Khem Birch, Bonzie Colson, Marko Guduric, Devon Hall, and Nicolo Melli are also members of Fenerbahce.
Nigel Hayes-Davis Profile
Hayes-Davis is a 6-8 versatile forward who can do a little bit of everything. The athletic 30-year-old is a playmaker who has a quick release and range on his jumper. He is a three-level scorer who finishes well at the rim and through contact. He also possesses a high motor and can rebound, pass, and defend effectively.
Hayes-Davis has really come into his own over the last three seasons. He is in the process of having a career year, averaging 15.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.1 steals in 73 games this season. He is also making a career-best 1.9 threes while shooting 47.0/39.1/88.4. The 2025 Euroleague Final Four MVP and All-Euroleague First Team for the second consecutive year.
Hayes-Davis, a Westerville (OH) native, went undrafted out of Wisconsin in 2017. However, Hayes-Davis did appear in nine games during the 2017-18 campaign, playing for the Los Angeles Lakers (2), Sacramento Kings (2), and Toronto Raptors (5). He totaled 27 points and 22 rebounds during his short stint, as he struggled with his shooting.
Hayes-Davis moved overseas for the 2018-19 season and has been there ever since. Hayes-Davis also participated in the Team USA national team’s Olympic training camp as part of the “Select Team” last summer.
Boston Celtics Interest
It shouldn’t be a surprise that Boston is interested in Hayes. The Celtics are reportedly looking to re-tool its roster as they have major salary cap issues. Plus, star Jayson Tatum is expected to miss most of the upcoming season, if not all.
However, this is not the Celtics’ first bromance of Hayes-Davis. Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston said that the Celtics have been intrigued by Hayes-Davis for years.
According to Forsberg, the Celtics’ interest in Hayes-Davis began in 2016, when he participated in a workout with the team before withdrawing from the draft. Forsberg added that there were reports of mutual interest between the C’s and Hayes-Davis, though nothing materialized.
Boston has 13 players under contract for the 2025-26 season with a salary cap hit of $227.78 million, meaning the Celtics are $19.6 million over the punitive second apron. There have been rumors circulating that the Celtics could trade Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Sam Hauser, and Jrue Holiday this summer to reduce salaries.
Regardless of whether Boston makes a trade or two, the Celtics will need cheap options to fill out the roster. Free agents Al Horford and Torrey Craig aren’t expected to return. Unrestricted free agent Luke Kornet may return, though he is likely in line for a raise.
Boston has two draft picks in 2025. The Celtics own the No. 28 and No. 32 picks.
Last Word
Hayes-Davis should get another opportunity in the NBA; he has definitely demonstrated that he has the skills to play in the league over the last three years. However, Boston is reportedly not the only team interested in Hayes-Davis, as he also has been linked to Memphis. There could be other teams interested.
While it is thought that Mazzula was in Istanbul to scout Hayes-Davis, as Forsberg pointed out, he could have also had eyes on other Fenerbahce players. Perhaps the Celtics would be interested in trading for Biberovic. Possibly, Colson, Baldwin IV, Hall, or Birch could have an interest in returning to the NBA.
Colson, who played eight games for Milwaukee in 2018-19, was named the Basketball Champion League MVP a few years ago. Birch, who last played in the NBA during the 2022-23 season, had eight points and 10 rebounds in front of Mazzulla. Meanwhile, Baldwin led the team on Monday with 16 points and five assists.
Perhaps the Celtics have an interest in Temple forward Steve Settle. Adam Taylor of Heavy.com reported that Settle worked out for the Celtics yesterday.
Temple fits the [Celtics president Brad] Stevens’ mold,” Taylor said. “He’s a versatile scorer with some polish to his game.”
Settle spent the last two years at Temple after transferring from Howard. The 6-11, 175-pound wing averaged 12.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists this past season. He also averaged a career-high 1.5 threes a game while producing compiling the best shooting stats of his career at 47.8/41.6/73.6.
While Settle probably won’t get drafted, he potentially could earn a two-way deal.
Photo Credit: © Brad Penner, Imagn Images
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