Blatt to return to Europe, sign deal with Turkish basketball team

The American-Israeli coach is on the verge of signing a deal with Turkish Euroleague club Darussafaka Dogus Istanbul that will earn him in the region of two million euros per season.

By ALLON SINAI
Updated: JUNE 1, 2016 08:38
David Blatt is still licking his wounds after being fired by the Cleveland Cavaliers last week, but his next job in the NBA could be just beyond the horizon. (photo credit: REUTERS)
David Blatt is still licking his wounds after being fired by the Cleveland Cavaliers last week, but his next job in the NBA could be just beyond the horizon.
(photo credit: REUTERS)
After failing to land a head coaching position in the NBA, David Blatt is returning to Europe.
The American-Israeli coach is on the verge of signing a deal with Turkish Euroleague club Darussafaka Dogus Istanbul that will earn him in the region of two million euros per season.
Blatt was offered to return to Maccabi Tel Aviv, which he guided to the Euroleague title before leaving for Cleveland in the summer of 2014. However, he quickly told the club that he has no intention of coming back to coach in Israel.
After being sacked by the Cleveland Cavaliers in January, Blatt held interviews with three different teams this summer, but was not offered a position.
Blatt, who guided Cleveland to the NBA Finals last year and was surprisingly sacked with the Cavs leading the East at 30-11, is believed to have had offers to work as an assistant coach in the NBA, but was only interested in returning to the league as a head coach.
Blatt, who coached Efes Pilsen of Istanbul in 2007/08, was interviewed by the New York Knicks, Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings, and was considered at one stage as one of the favorites for the Knicks opening together with interim coach Kurt Rambis and former Indiana Pacers coach Frank Vogel. Knicks president Phil Jackson was reportedly beyond “impressed” with Blatt’s “intelligence level” in their meeting, but New York ultimately hired former Phoenix Suns coach Jeff Hornacek.
Sacramento brought in former Memphis coach Dave Joerger, with the Rockets signing Mike D’Antoni.