Mario Hezonja Has NBA Suitors for Return After Leaving Real Madrid
Mario Hezonja announced he will pay the €850,000 buyout clause to leave Real Madrid and return to the NBA. The move initially raised suspicions at Real Madrid as his destination was unknown. However, after LeBron James chose the Philadelphia 76ers, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors—who missed out on James—emerged as the main candidates to sign Hezonja, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Both teams face salary cap constraints and see the 31-year-old Croatian as a budget-friendly, experienced option. Hezonja played 335 NBA games with the Orlando Magic, New York Knicks, and Portland Trail Blazers before returning to Europe, where he won the EuroLeague with Madrid in 2023 and was named MVP of the season. His departure was also influenced by coach Sergio Scariolo's exit.
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