There’s a simple reason Mario Hezonja keeps grabbing attention: when he gets rolling, he can hijack a game.
Cavs fans are starting to see that firsthand after his move earlier this summer, and the early returns have been loud. Hezonja, who hasn’t been in the NBA since the 2019-20 season, has come out of the gate scorching for Croatia in FIBA Qualifying play, stringing together big scoring nights that have only boosted the curiosity around what he can bring to Cleveland.
The clearest takeaway from these recent performances is that Hezonja needs touches. He’s not the kind of forward who should be parked in a corner waiting for spot-up looks all night. The better approach is giving him a few possessions each game where he can attack the rim or create his own shot.
That feels especially true after what he’s done over these two FIBA contests, where he scored 65 points combined. He’s also coming off a season in which he averaged close to 18 a game for Real Madrid and won the EuroLeague MVP the year before. This is the version of Hezonja that Orlando thought it was getting when it drafted him fifth overall in 2015.
The fit in Cleveland should be about keeping him active, not static. James Harden and Donovan Mitchell are both strong lob passers, so a little pick-and-roll work with the long forward makes sense. He’s expected to play mostly power forward with some minutes at small forward, which gives the Cavs another way to involve him without asking him to just stand and watch.
That’s the main point here: don’t reduce him to a spot-up role. He’s shown too much already for that.
Kenny Atkinson has taken criticism, but he has done a solid job managing minutes. Not necessarily in terms of always using the right combinations, but in making sure his best players get run. He knows what Hezonja can offer, and he should know where to place him in the rotation.
The usual pattern has three players checking in during the first quarter and two more in the second for Cleveland. Hezonja should be one of the players coming in after Sam Merrill and Jaylon Tyson. That would put him alongside the second unit, and when either Donovan Mitchell or James Harden sits, the Croatian forward ought to see the ball.
A nightly range of 15-20 minutes seems like the right ceiling to start the season. Hezonja already knows what he can do, and the way he’s playing right now makes it easy to see why there’s optimism. He looks like a real piece for a contending Cleveland team.
In Other News...
Cavaliers Just Sent Another Clear Message About Rocket Arenas Future
The Cavaliers have added another piece to their growing footprint around downtown Cleveland, buying a former bar at 721 Bolivar Road in the Gateway District for $1 million. The property sits in an area that has become increasingly important to the teams long-term planning, especially as Rocket Arena and the surrounding blocks continue to draw attention beyond game nights.
The purchase also fits a broader pattern around the district, where nearby property moves by the Guardians have helped signal how much value teams now place on controlling the land around their venues. After a season that kept the Cavaliers in the conversation and with the next one on the horizon, the latest acquisition only adds to the sense that the organization is thinking well beyond the court and into what comes next for the building and its neighborhood. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Added A Wild Card For Their Crowded Bench Rotation
The Cavaliers have added another name to an already crowded bench picture, signing Mario Hezonja to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract as training camp competition starts to take shape. It is the kind of low-risk move that gives Cleveland another experienced option to sort through while the team tries to settle the back end of its rotation, and Hezonja will have a chance to earn a spot if he can prove he belongs.
For a team that has spent the offseason balancing depth, fit and flexibility, the signing fits the broader search for help around the edges of the roster. The Cavaliers are not handing out a guaranteed role, but they are giving themselves another look at a player who could make the bench conversation more complicated if he finds his footing quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Last Roster Spot Suddenly Carries More Weight Than Expected
With training camp drawing closer, the Cavaliers last few roster decisions have taken on more importance than a typical end-of-summer cleanup. Cleveland waived forward Cam Whitmore and now has two guaranteed contracts left to hand out, all while working with limited salary cap space and trying to strengthen the frontcourt depth behind its core.
One option under consideration is Saliou Niang, a 2025 second-round pick whose rights the Cavaliers control. Niang has spent time playing overseas and is also tied up with LSU and international competition, which adds another layer to a front office already sorting through timing, availability and fit. For a team still looking to add size before camp opens, the final move may end up being less about filling a seat and more about finding the right kind of big man at the right moment. [Read more 🡒]