Fenerbahce Istanbul will receive a buyout following Nigel Hayes-Davis’ move to the NBA, sources tell BasketNews.
According to sources, the forward activated a €1 million NBA buyout clause to leave his contract—originally running through 2027—and sign with the Phoenix Suns, as reported by Shams Charania.
Hayes-Davis earned close to €2 million during his time at Fenerbahce, and the Turkish powerhouse is now expected to pursue a high-profile replacement for their cornerstone player.
With Nigel Hayes-Davis’ departure and the incoming buyout, Fenerbahce is set to clear around €3 million from their payroll.
Hayes-Davis departs after a championship-winning season, capping off Fenerbahce’s EuroLeague title run with a 23-point, 9-rebound performance in the final and earning Final Four MVP honors.
He was named to the All-EuroLeague First Team in back-to-back seasons and averaged 16.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists on 41% shooting from deep in 2024–25.
The 30-year-old also set the EuroLeague single-game scoring record two seasons ago with a 50-point outburst. Hayes-Davis spent last summer training with Team USA ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he gained exposure to NBA decision-makers and some of the league’s biggest stars, further paving the way for his eventual jump to the NBA.