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Cavaliers Sign Mario Hezonja to 1-Year, $2.8M Deal

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed EuroLeague star Mario Hezonja to a one-year, $2.8 million contract, marking his return to the NBA after a six-year absence. The move comes after the Cavs missed out on LeBron James, who chose the Philadelphia 76ers.

TakeTack Desk 1 hr ago
Cavaliers Sign Mario Hezonja to 1-Year, $2.8M Deal

Cavaliers Sign Mario Hezonja to 1-Year, $2.8M Deal

The short answer

Mario Hezonja, the No. 5 pick in the 2015 NBA draft, has agreed to a one-year, $2.8 million contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers, returning to the NBA for the first time since the 2019-20 season. He last played in the league with the Portland Trail Blazers. Hezonja spent the last four years with Real Madrid, winning a EuroLeague championship in 2023 and earning the Liga ACB MVP award in 2026. The Cavs pursued Hezonja after LeBron James chose to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Why it's trending

The news of Mario Hezonja's return to the NBA after a six-year hiatus, combined with the context of the Cavaliers pivoting after missing out on LeBron James, has generated significant interest. Hezonja's EuroLeague success and former lottery pick status add to the narrative.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed EuroLeague star Mario Hezonja to a one-year, $2.8 million contract, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The move comes after the Cavs were unable to re-sign LeBron James, who chose to join the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday.

Hezonja, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft, last played in the NBA during the 2019-20 season with the Portland Trail Blazers. He spent the subsequent four seasons with Real Madrid, where he helped the team win a EuroLeague championship in 2023 and was named the Liga ACB MVP in 2026 after averaging 17.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.

According to Charania, Hezonja also received strong interest from the Golden State Warriors but will serve a key wing role for Cleveland. The Cavs were forced to adjust their free-agent strategy after James' agent, Rich Paul, confirmed that Cleveland was among the finalists for the superstar, along with Golden State and Miami.

Hezonja's return marks a notable comeback for a former lottery pick who struggled to meet expectations in his first NBA stint. His success in Europe suggests he may provide valuable depth for a Cavaliers team looking to build on its recent playoff appearances.

Timeline

  1. LeBron James signs with Philadelphia 76ers

    James chose the 76ers over the Cavaliers, Warriors, and Heat, as confirmed by his agent Rich Paul.

  2. Cavaliers sign Mario Hezonja

    Per Shams Charania, Hezonja agrees to a one-year, $2.8 million contract with Cleveland, returning to the NBA after a six-year absence.

Questions people ask

Who is Mario Hezonja?

Mario Hezonja is a Croatian basketball player who was the No. 5 pick in the 2015 NBA draft. He last played in the NBA in 2020 and spent the last four seasons with Real Madrid, winning a EuroLeague title and an ACB MVP award.

Why did the Cavaliers sign Hezonja?

The Cavaliers signed Hezonja after missing out on LeBron James in free agency. Hezonja is expected to play a key wing role and provides depth after a successful stint in Europe.

How did Hezonja perform in Europe?

Hezonja averaged 17.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists for Real Madrid in the 2025-26 season, earning Liga ACB MVP honors. He also won a EuroLeague championship in 2023.

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Cavaliers Sign Mario Hezonja to 1-Year Deal | TakeTack