Mario Hezonja is trying to make the Cavaliers look smart.
Cleveland took a flier on the 6-foot-7 forward in July, giving him a $2.4 million deal even though he hasn’t appeared in an NBA game in six years. That kind of move comes with obvious skepticism. His first run in the league never really took off, and there’s no automatic guarantee that the progress he’s made overseas will carry over to the NBA.
Still, Hezonja has been giving Cleveland reasons to pay attention.
He’s been rolling for Croatia in the FIBA World Cup qualifying tournament, and the biggest flash came with a 37-point outburst. He capped it with a step-back three-pointer that put his team in front after it had been down two with fewer than 10 seconds left.
That’s a different version of Hezonja than the one NBA fans remember.
Back then, he had trouble scoring efficiently. Since leaving the league, though, he’s turned himself into a legitimate threat from deep, whether he’s catching and shooting or creating off the dribble. He’s comfortable launching from well beyond the arc, even when his feet aren’t perfectly set.
That kind of jump shot matters. For a lot of players, the three-pointer is the switch that changes everything, and Hezonja appears to have found it. He’s shot close to 40% from downtown over his recent EuroLeague seasons.
Of course, none of that guarantees anything once he gets back to the States. Hezonja hasn’t been so dominant from long range that you can assume it will all translate cleanly. But what he’s done in FIBA competition is about as close as you can get to an NBA-style test.
The shooting has also opened up the rest of his game. In another win over Latvia during the tournament, Hezonja put up 28 points and went 8-8 from inside the two-point range. He attacked in transition, got downhill, and kept putting pressure on the rim.
Hezonja’s size and physical style help too. He can use his body to create space and lean on defenders when the jumper isn’t there. That gives him a useful fallback if the outside shot goes cold.
On paper, he looks like the kind of wing Kenny Atkinson can work with: big enough to bother defenders, skilled enough to hit threes, and athletic enough to get to the basket. Cleveland may have found him the right fit at the right time.
The question now is whether he can keep that same confidence against NBA-level defenders, and whether he can match the pace of the league that once moved past him six years ago.
In Other News...
Cavs Pipeline Added A Guard Worth Watching Closely
The Cavaliers development pipeline picked up another intriguing backcourt piece this week when the Cleveland Charge landed guard Kadary Richmond in a four-team trade that also sent Malaki Branham to the Osceola Magic. Richmond has already gotten a small taste of the NBA this season with the Washington Wizards, but most of his work came with the Capital City Go-Go, where he showed a well-rounded game as a lead guard and kept himself on the radar.
For Cleveland, the move is about more than just adding depth. Richmond gives the Charge another guard worth evaluating in a system that has become an important part of the organizations bigger picture, and the deal also brought back a 2027 first-round G-League draft pick. The real question now is how quickly Richmond can carve out a role and turn a fresh opportunity into something that matters for the Cavs long-term guard inventory. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Broadcast News Leaves One Franchise Voice In Question
The Cavaliers new multi-year broadcast agreement with DAZN brings a fresh look to how fans will follow the team, and the club made sure to identify the on-air personalities set to be part of the arrangement. It is a notable shift for a franchise that has long treated its television and game-day voices as part of the teams identity, especially with a familiar cast expected to carry the new setup forward.
Austin Carrs name, though, was absent from the announcement, leaving one of the most recognizable figures in Cavaliers broadcast history in an uncertain spot. Carr has been a longtime franchise voice, and with no official statement clarifying any change, his role in the new era remains unresolved for now. [Read more 🡒]
Former Cavs Big Man Is Getting One More NBA Chance
The 76ers have brought Tacko Fall back into the NBA mix ahead of the new season, giving the towering center another chance to stick at the highest level. Fall spent the 2021-22 season with the Cavaliers, and since then he has continued his career overseas while waiting for another door to open in the league.
At 7-foot-6, Fall remains one of the most recognizable big men in basketball, with his size and shot-blocking still the traits that keep him in the conversation. Philadelphia is now the latest team willing to take a look, and for a player who has bounced between opportunities, the challenge is the same as ever: turn a fresh signing into a roster spot. [Read more 🡒]