Mario Hezonja Has 'Suitors' for NBA Return; Cavs and Warriors Emerge as Candidates
Mario Hezonja announced he would pay the €850,000 buyout clause to leave Real Madrid for the NBA, sparking initial suspicion as his destination was unknown. Following LeBron James' decision to join the Philadelphia 76ers, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors, who missed out on James, are now emerging 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, who played 335 NBA games with the Orlando Magic, New York Knicks, and Portland Trail Blazers, 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. Hezonja's return to the NBA appears imminent, ending speculation that the move was a ploy to escape his Madrid contract.
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