Cavs add ex-lottery pick Hezonja after Euro stint
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- Mario Hezonja agreed to a one-year, $2.8 million deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers, agent Michael Tellem of Excel Sports Management told ESPN.
- The Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors both showed strong interest in bringing Hezonja back to the NBA after he spent the past four seasons with Real Madrid.
- Real Madrid won the EuroLeague championship in 2024 during Hezonja's tenure, and Hezonja was named ACB League MVP in 2025-26.
- Hezonja, the No. 5 pick in the 2015 draft, is set to play a key wing role for the Cavaliers, who reached the Eastern Conference finals.
- In his prior NBA career, Hezonja played three years with the Orlando Magic and one year each with the New York Knicks and Portland Trail Blazers, averaging 6.9 points and 3.1 rebounds in a mostly reserve role.
Why it matters: The Cavaliers, coming off an Eastern Conference finals appearance, added a wing on a one-year, $2.8 million deal — a low-risk flier on the No. 5 pick from 2015, who spent four seasons starring for EuroLeague champion Real Madrid and was just named ACB League MVP. He averaged 6.9 points and 3.1 rebounds across five prior NBA seasons in a reserve role.
