Mario Hezonja reportedly signing 1-year, $2.8 million deal with Cavaliers, returning to NBA for first time since 2020

After playing overseas each of the past six seasons, the last four of which he spent with Real Madrid, Mario Hezonja is returning to the NBA for the first time since 2020, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, who reported Sunday that the EuroLeague star has agreed to a one-year, $2.8 million deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

>Hezonja, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2015 draft, last played in the league with the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2019-20 season.

>Now 31, Hezonja is reportedly set to join a Cleveland squad that reached the Eastern Conference finals this year. The Golden State Warriors also showed “strong interest” in the Croatian forward this offseason, per Charania.

>Hezonja -- the No. 5 pick in the 2015 draft -- receives an opportunity to revitalize his NBA career entering his 6th season in the league after last playing in 2019-20, and is set to play a key wing role for the Eastern conference finalists. Hezonja received strong interest to… https://t.co/XRfrmR5h7d

>— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 26, 2026