The Cleveland Cavaliers didn't blow up anything after getting swept by the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals, and I think that was the right call, because this team was already pretty close. Cleveland finished 52-30, ranked sixth in offensive rating at 119.2, and reached its first Conference Finals since 2018, so the answer wasn't starting over, it was finding better pieces around a core that still has the talent to win the East.
The front office basically doubled down on that idea during the summer. Donovan Mitchell signed a four-year, $273.0 million extension, James Harden came back on a three-year, $97.0 million deal after arriving for Darius Garland at the deadline, and the Cavaliers made their biggest outside move by landing Peyton Watson in a five-team sign-and-trade. Max Strus, Dennis Schroder, Dean Wade, and Keon Ellis are among the players gone, while Mario Hezonja also returned to the NBA after several seasons in Europe.
That leaves Cleveland with a very clear bet for 2026-27: The Big Four have to be good enough to carry most of this. There isn't another superstar coming, and they have the pieces to win, because Mitchell averaged almost 28 points last season, Harden can still run an elite offense, Mobley is entering his prime, and Allen remains one of the better centers in the East.
The problem is that we already saw this group hit a wall in the playoffs. Cleveland scored only 107.9 points per game during the postseason, Harden dropped to 19.2 points and 5.5 **** ists while shooting 29.9% from three, and the Knicks beat them by 37 points in Game 4 to finish the sweep.
This season isn't really about proving the Cavaliers are good. We already know about their talent, now they have to prove this Big Four can actually finish the job in a stacked Eastern Conference.

#cavaliers #points #eastern #finals

Former three-time NBA All-Star Ben Simmons is the latest free agent looking to make an NBA comeback, as former first-round picks Mario Hezonja and Lonnie Walker IV have returned to the United States and secured NBA contracts.
Simmons, an LSU product, experienced plenty of success on the biggest stages with the Philadelphia 76ers, making an All-NBA Third Team and two All-Defensive Teams. At his peak, the Australian guard, once compared to NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson, averaged 16.4 points, eight **** ists, 7.8 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 0.6 blocks.
According to Andscape, Simmons is feeling the "best he's felt in years" and has already received an invite to training-camp from one team. Simmons, who last played for the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2024-25 season, is open to signing for the minimum. Having just turned 30, Simmons offers an intriguing low-risk, high-reward option as teams put the finishing touches on their roster before the season tips off in late October.
This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Report: Several teams interested in three-time All-Star eyeing NBA comeback

#time #mario

CLEVELAND (AP) — Forward Mario Hezonja will return to the NBA for the first time in six years after signing a one-year contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Hezonja has played the last four years for Real Madrid and was the Spanish League MVP after averaging 13.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.4 ****** ists this past season.
The 31-year-old from Croatia was the fifth overall pick by Orlando in the 2015 NBA draft and played five seasons for the Magic, New York Knicks and Portland Trail Blazers. He averaged 6.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.3 ****** ists.
Hezonja also played in the EuroLeague for Panathinaikos in Greece and Russia's UNICS Kazan.
Cleveland — which advanced to the Eastern Conference finals last season for the first time in 2018 — had a need for depth in the front court after the departures of Dean Wade and Keon Ellis during free agency.

#hezonja #first #years

Unsurprisingly, the Cleveland Cavaliers need to add another forward to the roster in the wake of LeBron James going to the Philadelphia 76ers. It seems that the signing of Mario Hezonja is not the only transaction the Cavaliers are pursuing.
In a segment on NBA Today, ESPN's Shams Charania noted that "DeMar DeRozan has interest from Cleveland". Charania also mentioned that "Miami, Denver and Cleveland are among the teams interested in DeMar DeRozan".
The Sacramento Kings bought out DeRozan earlier this month. DeRozan will turn 37 by the time the season tips off in October. Age hasn't hindered his ability to be a microwave scorer and availability averaging 18.4 points while shooting 49.7% from the field in the 77 games played this past season.
The Cavaliers clearly need wing talent after Dean Wade signed with the 76ers and Keon Ellis signed with the Brooklyn Nets. DeRozan projects as a more awkward fit for Cleveland's roster given that he has been the primary scoring option for the majority of his career. The unknown of how he will find his spots on a team with the ball primarily in James Harden and Donovan Mitchell is yet to be seen.
A clear benefit for the Cavaliers in a DeRozan addition would be the pressure to the rim DeRozan provides, as well as being a sufficient scorer without support. The warts of the acquisition would be that DeRozan has never established a consistent outside shot.

#derozan #james #need #season

What's clear in Cleveland: Even after the signing of Mario Hezonja, sources with knowledge of the Cavaliers' thinking insisted Monday that they continue to maintain ****** inga interest. The problem: Cleveland's lack of available salary-cap ****** e means it would require a sign-and-trade to add ****** inga. And sources say that the Cavaliers, because they are already hard-capped at the first apron, have found it challenging to ****** emble a trade construction that Atlanta would find suitable.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Even after the signing of Mario Hezonja, sources with …

#trade

Despite reports linking Hezonja with other EuroLeague clubs, BasketNews sources maintain that his future lies in the NBA. Hezonja reportedly rejected offers from three EuroLeague teams to sign conditional contracts that would have become active only if his NBA return ended prematurely. The 31-year-old was confident enough in his ability to establish himself in the league that he viewed such negotiations as unnecessary. Returning to the NBA has been Hezonja's goal for several years, which is why he negotiated an NBA exit clause into his Real Madrid contract.
BasketNews
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Despite reports linking Hezonja with other EuroLeague …

#euroleague #returning

BasketNews' Donatas Urbonas reported that Hezonja's next team is expected to be in the NBA despite recent speculation in Europe regarding his future. According to BasketNews sources, there is confidence that the Croatian forward fulfilled all the necessary conditions to activate the NBA exit clause in his long-term Real Madrid contract before Monday's deadline, clearing the way for his departure.
BasketNews
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: There is confidence that the Croatian forward …

#confidence #forward #real

League sources maintain that the Cavaliers are among the teams that have registered interest in former No. 5 overall pick Mario Hezonja. The Real Madrid forward has made it clear that he wants to return to the NBA after playing in Europe for the past six seasons and the last four in the Spanish capital. So add Hezonja's name to the list of potential fallback options for Cleveland along with Hawks free agent Jonathan ***** inga. "I think," said one trusted source, "that we're going to see eight or nine players sign right after LeBron makes his choice. Maybe more."
marcstein.substack.com
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Cavs interested in Mario Hezonja

#hezonja #real #madrid

However, he has not yet received an offer from any franchise nor has he paid the buyout . And that last detail seems crucial. The ACB collective bargaining agreement stipulates that the notification must be made at the same time as the buyout clause is paid, something that hasn't been done . To try and resolve this issue, according to MARCA, Hezonja's representatives have contacted Real Madrid offering to increase the amount to be paid to release the player.
Marca.com
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: The ACB collective bargaining agreement stipulates …

#collective #however #madrid

As reported earlier this week, former No. 5 overall pick Mario Hezonja is preparing for an NBA comeback. According to The Stein Line, multiple teams have shown interest in the former Orlando Magic forward.
Stein also reported that some teams listed include franchises currently in the LeBron James sweepstakes. Although Hezonja averaged only 6.9 points in five NBA seasons, the Croatian forward averaged 20 minutes played or more in just two of his five years. Last season with Real Madrid, Hezonja tallied 17.5 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.
Still just 31 years old, Hezonja is capable of providing quality minutes off the bench in an NBA rotation.
This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Multiple NBA teams interested in signing former top-five draft pick

#reported #pick #forward