Mario Hezonja and Marcus Smart both gave their new teams something to think about in preseason action, while Milwaukee’s backcourt picture is starting to take shape behind its starters.
For Cleveland, Hezonja looked far more settled in his second exhibition with the Cavaliers. Against Orlando, he put together the kind of multi-skill line that can catch a coach’s eye: 13 points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks in just under 17 minutes.
He went 5-of-9 from the field and 2-of-4 from three, but the box score only tells part of the story. He got out in transition, helped on the glass, stretched the floor and chipped in defensively.
That’s the sort of all-around package Cleveland was after when it brought him back to the NBA after more than six years overseas. He’s still trying to lock down a steady role, but Sunday made a solid case for more minutes.
Houston got its first look at Marcus Smart, and the veteran guard made it count. In his preseason debut against Dallas, Smart scored 20 points and added five rebounds and four assists.
Rockets coach Ime Udoka was quick to point out that Smart brings more than production. “He’s really cerebral on both sides of the ball and has played in big games,” Udoka said, via Eric Jay Santos of Sports Illustrated.
Udoka also emphasized how Smart’s edge, toughness and ability to handle point-guard responsibilities can help the Rockets, especially on nights when Fred VanVleet sits. “His experience, and the edge and toughness that he brings every night, is going to be invaluable for us,” Udoka said.
Smart signed a two-year deal with Houston this summer, giving Udoka another veteran option in a crowded backcourt.
In Milwaukee, the focus is on who can earn minutes behind the starters. Tre Allen of Sports Illustrated identified Kevin Porter Jr. and Kasparas Jakucionis as two candidates for backup point-guard work.
Porter’s preseason opener was quiet, as he finished with seven points on 1-of-6 shooting. Jakucionis, though, responded in his next chance by putting up 10 points, four rebounds and four assists in 18 minutes against Oklahoma City.
Ryan Rollins and Tyler Herro appear set as Milwaukee’s starting guards, and rookie Brayden Burries is expected to have a role as well. That still leaves Porter and Jakucionis fighting for whatever’s left.
It’s only preseason, so no one is winning or losing anything after one game, but Jakucionis at least gave Taylor Jenkins something to consider.
In Other News...
Mario Hezonja Is Making Clevelands Rotation Battle More Interesting
Mario Hezonja has spent the Cavaliers preseason making his case one rep at a time, and the early returns have at least made the frontcourt conversation a little more intriguing. After years in Europe, he has been adjusting to the NBA game again, with Cleveland seeing signs of growth in his comfort level, pace and overall fit as the team sorts through how it wants to use its big bodies.
Kenny Atkinson has kept the focus on role and fit rather than anything permanent, which is exactly why Hezonjas presence matters this time of year. The Cavaliers are still figuring out how their rotation will shake out as the regular season nears, and Hezonjas size and strength give them another option for frontcourt depth in a group where every spot seems to be under review. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs May Have Found The Two-Way Wing This Roster Needed
The Cavaliers spent the 2026 offseason adding Peyton Watson from Denver, and the early return has been the kind of low-drama, high-value fit teams hope for when they make a swing on the wing. Cleveland has clearly liked what it has seen so far, and Watson has been welcomed quickly by his new teammates as the sort of long, athletic presence that can help stabilize a lineup on both ends.
There is also a reason his arrival has carried extra weight inside the room. Donovan Mitchell has been among the voices impressed by Watsons defensive ability and winning approach, and the Cavs appear to view him as more than just a depth addition. He has already carved out a place in the rotation, and his game looks tailor-made for Kenny Atkinsons system, which makes the next step less about whether he belongs and more about how large a role Cleveland will ultimately trust him with. [Read more 🡒]
Cavaliers Finally Got The Preseason Look Fans Needed
For the first time this preseason, the Cavaliers were able to put a fully healthy roster on the floor against Orlando, giving fans the kind of look they had been waiting for. The group of James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Peyton Watson, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen finally gave Cleveland a chance to see its intended shape, and the result was a game with enough strong defensive stretches and offensive rhythm to hint at what the rotation could look like once the games start counting.
Harden was the standout on the night, giving Cleveland a steady scoring presence while the rest of the group showed how much balance the roster can have when everyone is available. There is still one more meeting with the Magic in Orlando to finish the preseason, and for a team that has spent much of camp waiting to get to this point, the bigger question now is how much of this look will carry over when the margin for error disappears. [Read more 🡒]