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Cavaliers Considered Signing Mario Hezonja in 2025 Before Sunday Deal
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- Cavaliers Considered Signing Mario Hezonja in 2025 Before Sunday Deal
(Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)
The Cleveland Cavaliers scouted Mario Hezonja in person numerous times over the last few years, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com reported . Cleveland discussed bringing him to the NBA last summer before filling out the roster with other players.
On Sunday, Hezonja committed to signing a one-year, $2.8 million contract to join the Cavaliers. Golden State also pursued Hezonja but was unable to land him.
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Over the last four years, Hezonja shot 38.4% on catch-and-shoot attempts. Cleveland believes in the shooting improvement and in his big-game experience overseas, Fedor reported.
Orlando drafted Hezonja fifth overall in 2015. Across five NBA seasons with the Magic , New York Knicks , and Portland Trail Blazers , he averaged 6.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 18.5 minutes over 330 games and 69 starts. He shot 41.7% from the field and 31.9% from 3-point range.
Memphis traded for him in 2020, then waived him before the season. He hasn't played in the NBA since 2019-20 with Portland.
Hezonja signed with Panathinaikos in 2021, winning the Greek League and Cup that spring. He played the next season at UNICS Kazan, earning VTB United League MVP. Madrid signed him in 2022.
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The Croatian forward won the 2023 EuroLeague with Real Madrid, made the 2024 All-EuroLeague Second Team, and helped Madrid win ACB titles in 2024 and 2025. He was on the All-ACB First Team in 2025 and 2026, and was MVP this past season.
Real Madrid topped the ACB regular season and reached the EuroLeague final, where Olympiacos won 92-85 in Athens on May 24. Hezonja scored 44 points in the Final Four, the most by any player. On May 3, he scored 40 points with 11 rebounds and 6 assists against Murcia.
His extension with Real Madrid ran through 2029 and carried an NBA exit clause. Hezonja informed the club this month that he would exercise it. He turned 31 in February.
Cleveland finished 52-30 and fourth in the East last season. In February the Cavaliers traded Darius Garland and a 2026 second-round pick to the Los Angeles Clippers for James Harden . Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson used 41 different starting lineups during the regular season.
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Cleveland beat Toronto in seven games in the first round. The Cavaliers then beat top-seeded Detroit in seven games in the semifinals after dropping the first two. New York swept Cleveland in the Eastern Conference finals .
LeBron James signed a two-year contract with the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday. Dean Wade signed with Philadelphia in free agency. Keon Ellis also left.
Harden declined his $42.3 million player option in late June. Cleveland can access the $6.1 million taxpayer midlevel exception only if Harden's new contract starts between $26 million and $28 million. The Cavaliers operated above the second apron last season.
Training camp opens in September.
