Mario HezonhaThe annual minimum wage contract remains not guaranteed until November 15thbut based on the role the Croatian forward has been playing this season, he made the decision easy for him Cavaliersaccording to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (subscription required).
In his first NBA stint since 2020 after six years in Europe, Hezonja is averaging 7.4 points and 4.0 rebounds in 17.4 minutes per game while shooting a career-high 35.3 percent from three-point range in five games off the bench. He played 15 to 20 minutes in each of those five games until he became a permanent part of the head coaching staff. Kenny Atkinsonrotation st.
“It’s a difficult transformation” Atkinson said of Hezondjo’s transition from Euroleague star to NBA player role. “Honestly, I think he’s doing great. He’s going to find his niche because the talent is obviously there, and he’s going to help us win, I think, a lot of games. It’s still early. He’s still getting to know everybody. We’re getting to know him as coaches, where he fits, and if we get to know each other better, it’s going to make the whole thing better.”
Given how little breathing room the Cavaliers have under their tight first apron cap, giving up Hezondjo to replace him with the new 14th man wouldn’t be ideal, but it would be possible. For now, though, it’s a safe bet that he’ll remain under contract through Nov. 15, guaranteeing his full salary of $2,845,883 and locking in a cap hit of $2,449,421.
We have more on the Cavaliers:
- Evan Mobley won Defensive Player of the Year honors, made two first-team all-defense and averaged more than 18 points in each of the last two seasons, but if the 25-year-old’s career-high 3-pointer this season is real, it could significantly increase both his and the Cavaliers’ ceiling. Fedor writes for Cleveland.com (subscription required). Even after going 0-3 in Thursday’s loss to Atlanta, Mobley has made 12 of 21 3-pointers in five games. It’s safe to assume he won’t shoot 57.1% from beyond the arc all season, but Mobley said this week that he feels his improvements are “sustainable,” while teammate Jarrett Allen suggested the need for opponents to defend Mobley to the perimeter “opens my eyes.”
- In a thorough conversation with Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com (subscription required), Cavaliers president of basketball operations Coby Altman — who is in his 10th season running the team’s front office — is re-examining his role as the team’s chief decision-maker, detailing the challenges of transitioning from LeBron James in 2018 and explains why he’s proud Cleveland has become a consistent playoff team and legitimate contender just a few years after James left. “Not only did we lose LeBron (for nothing in return), but we also had huge contracts on the books from our deep playoff runs,” Altman said. “… We drafted Evan (in 2021) and we’ve been a playoff team ever since. When a generational player like LeBron leaves, nobody expects you to get back to the playoffs so quickly. But we were able to do it and we haven’t looked back.”
- After scoring in double figures in his first two NBA games on Monday and Wednesday, Melick Thomas sat out Thursday due to inflammation and soreness in right foot. A rookie guard who has a strong +10.2 net rating in his first two outings, listed as doubtful play in Saturday’s contest in Milwaukee.
