Local Hoops: Bluthenthal rejoins Maccabi as new roster takes shape

The 29-year-old played for French club Le Mans last season, averaging 12.5 points and 3.8 rebounds per game in the Euroleague.

By ALLON SINAI
Maccabi Tel Aviv added David Bluthenthal to its roster on Thursday, the first of many signings the club is set to make in the coming weeks. After a disappointing season by its standards, winning the BSL title but stumbling in the State Cup and failing to make it past the Euroleague Top 16, Maccabi is planning to overhaul its roster once more this off-season. Bluthenthal, who signed a one year contract, will be joining Maccabi for the third time, but is not expected to be one of the team's main players. The 29-year-old played for French club Le Mans last season, averaging 12.5 points and 3.8 rebounds per game in the Euroleague, and will be especially important for Tel Aviv in league play as he is an Israeli citizen. Maccabi is also very close to officially announcing the signing of several new foreigners. The 27-year-old American forward Chuck Eidson is supposed to become one of the new team's leaders after starring for Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius in the past two seasons. Tel Aviv's new playmaker is expected to be Andrew Wisniewski, 27, who played for Spartak St Petersburg last season, but has yet to prove he is capable of orchestrating a side at the Euroleague level. Alan Anderson, 26, will play next week for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Summer League, but if he fails to secure a contract in the best league in the world he will join Maccabi and mainly add to the team's scoring threat. Stephane Lasme will likely do much of the dirty work under the baskets for the side, with Poland's Maciej Lampe the main candidate to be Maccabi starting center.