Hezonja Officially in Cleveland, LeBron Moving to New York?
The Croatian national team player has signed a one-year contract worth $2.8 million, while speculation swirls about where LeBron James will live after signing with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Croatian national team player has signed a one-year contract worth $2.8 million, while speculation swirls about where LeBron James will live after signing with the Philadelphia 76ers.
After a multi-day saga, Mario Hezonja's return to the NBA has finally been officially confirmed. The Cleveland Cavaliers announced on Friday on their official website that the Croatian basketball national team player is the newest member of their squad, welcoming him with the message: "Welcome to Cleveland, Mario!"
According to Telegram, the 31-year-old from Dubrovnik has agreed to a one-year deal with the Cavaliers worth $2.8 million, or approximately €2.46 million. He arrives with extensive European experience, and it is expected that he will bolster the wing rotation, bringing shooting prowess and physicality.
Sportske novosti reports that the story of Hezonja's return spanned five days, starting when American insider Shams Charania announced on July 26 that he had signed with Cleveland. Official confirmation did not come until Friday, sparking numerous speculations. The Croatian basketball player was under contract with Real Madrid but had a clause allowing him to buy out his contract for a return to the NBA.
According to that clause, until July 20, 2026, he had the right to activate the exit option and pay €850,000 in compensation. Although he informed the club of his intention, at the time the deadline expired, he did not have a guaranteed contract with any NBA team, which further complicated the situation. Nevertheless, everything is now resolved, and Hezonja is officially a Cavaliers player.
This is not Hezonja's first stint in the world's strongest league. As the fifth overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, he first played for the Orlando Magic, where he spent three seasons. He then donned the jerseys of the New York Knicks (2018-2019) and the Portland Trail Blazers (2019-2020) before returning to Europe.
Net.hr provides a detailed statistical breakdown of his first NBA stint: in 330 regular-season games, he scored 2,284 points, grabbed 1,026 rebounds, dished out 415 assists, recorded 243 steals, and blocked 80 shots. His averages were 6.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. His only playoff experience came in 2020 with Portland, where he tallied 23 points, 16 rebounds, and six assists in five games.
In Cleveland, he will join a star-studded lineup. As reported by Sportske novosti, the team features James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, and Evan Mobley, with the club's ambitions set on competing for the top of the Eastern Conference. Večernji list adds that the Cavaliers had hoped for a LeBron James return, and since that did not materialize, Hezonja is expected to fill a significant void at the small forward position and be a key part of the rotation every night.
While Hezonja returns to the NBA, the league is buzzing about LeBron James. Bleacher Report cites The Athletic's Fred Katz, who claims that James's housing plans for the 2026-27 season are "not yet finalized." ESPN's Shams Charania reported on July 24 that James could live in New York or New Jersey while playing for the Philadelphia 76ers.
The 76ers' training center is located in Camden, New Jersey, and although the distance from New York to the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia is roughly 100 miles, Katz notes that James could use a helicopter. The flight would take about 45 minutes. PhillyVoice.com's Michael Tanenbaum, citing data from charter service Wing Air Helicopters, calculated that James's round-trip flights over the entire season could cost him $804,000.
"James has not publicly commented on his housing plans," Katz wrote, adding that the plans are not yet finalized, according to a league source who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. The Philadelphia 76ers last played in the NBA Finals in the 2000-01 season, and they last won the championship in the 1982-83 season.
