Mario Hezonja

[AO41]

Any interest in this guy? Orlando hasn't exactly maximized their payer over the years and eh is young. Is there a way to bring him in and see what he can do at the SG/SF position without giving up much?

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by AO41

Any interest in this guy? Orlando hasn't exactly maximized their payer over the years and eh is young. Is there a way to bring him in and see what he can do at the SG/SF position without giving up much?

Who are you trading? Who are you cutting if we trade picks? Does he bring more to the table than the guys we already have? What does Orlando even want?

[sefant77]

Magic didnt pick up his option and they have talks with the Kings (based around a 2nd rounder). Kings with Divac and Bogdanovic would make sense for him

[saclare]

Not sure he fits here if you want to see what Curry has eventually. How is his defense? He's a pretty long SG. Perhaps an option, but I don't see us trading for him.

[GlowerPower]

He's a classic needs a change of scenery guy. Has shown flashes, and very much fits into the modern NBA. I'd love to give him a shot here for a 2nd rounder and salary dump.

[Bryan_Wilson]

We are so thin on assets, I wouldn't trade for him. If we have interest sign him in the off season. Even a 2nd rounder to us is useful considering we are likely picking at the top of the 2nd. Maybe a future 2nd though.

[rimrocker]

Originally Posted by Bryan_Wilson

Even a 2nd rounder to us is useful considering we are likely picking at the top of the 2nd. Maybe a future 2nd though.

Didn't we lose that pick in the Noel trade?

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by rimrocker

Didn't we lose that pick in the Noel trade?

That was a 2020 pick, we sent our 2018 second rounder to Milwaukee (31-55 protected, so we'll probably end up keeping it).

https://basketball.realgm.com/nba/dr..._drafts/yearly

[rimrocker]

Originally Posted by Underdog

That was a 2020 pick, we sent our 2018 second rounder to Milwaukee (31-55 protected, so we'll probably end up keeping it).

https://basketball.realgm.com/nba/dr..._drafts/yearly

Ah...ok...thanks!!!

[GlowerPower]

Originally Posted by Bryan_Wilson

We are so thin on assets, I wouldn't trade for him. If we have interest sign him in the off season. Even a 2nd rounder to us is useful considering we are likely picking at the top of the 2nd. Maybe a future 2nd though.

Mario has more potential than a 2nd round pick, IMO. Guy is in the doghouse in Orlando (though he's looked good this year when he plays). Has right combo of shooting, size, playmaking, to be a good SF. Maybe a Gallinari ceiling.

[Bryan_Wilson]

Originally Posted by GlowerPower

Mario has more potential than a 2nd round pick, IMO. Guy is in the doghouse in Orlando (though he's looked good this year when he plays). Has right combo of shooting, size, playmaking, to be a good SF. Maybe a Gallinari ceiling.

I mostly agree, I just think you could potentially have both. I'd prolly trade a 2nd for him just not this years, unless it was protected for 31-35 for example. I'm reluctant to give up this year's 2nd since I'm pretty sure it will be in the top 5, there always seems to be guys in that range that are great value picks. Beyond that it's mostly a crapshoot so I wouldn't care as much. We seem to be doing a good job getting undrafted talent better than a lot of mid-late 2nd's anyway. The Magic had interest in DFS last year according to that leaked photo IIRC. I'd give them dodo in a heartbeat for the upside of Mario. If it took dodo and a shitty future 2nd I'd do that too.

[AO41]

Mario is only 22 and has plenty of potential. He will def. get picked up in free agency. Seeing how we have started, its obvious we aren't going anywhere while Orlando is actually playing decent ball. I wonder if they would be willing to take some of our bad contracts (Matthews and Powell).

[Magnum_3_Ball]

I don't know what the market for Hezonja is or what his cost would be from the Magic. If it's just our 2nd round pick this year, then we'd be crazy not to jump all over that.

How many players outside of Noel, Dirk, DSJ and Devin Harris do we have on this roster that ever had top 5 overall draft pick potential associated with their name? And we wouldn't give up a 2nd round pick to take a flier on a guy who's still in the league getting 17 mpg? Seriously? The odds of our 2nd round pick this year still being in the league 2 years from now aren't good. The mere fact Hezonja sees the court for 17 mpg makes him more valuable than our 2nd round draft pick (in theory). This guy is still just 22 years old.

I think Orlando would want more than just our 2nd round draft pick tho.

[Bryan_Wilson]

The thing with Mario that has me reluctant to trade for him with anything of value is he is in the final year of his deal and the Magic declined to offer him is QO. So whoever trades for him has him for this year and then he is an UFA. If he were to be a RFA following the season, like Noel was, then I'd be more willing to do it. As it stands nobody is throwing anything remotely close to a max at him obviously. So why not wait till free agency and get him then since nobody will have any sort of real advantage in recruiting him.

Edit- and we don't need to worry about having his rights to go over the cap to sign him because in the extremely unlikely event that we sign a max player and use up the cap I find it hard to believe Mario gets anything above exception level money which we could offer him. I think he's going to be a guy who signs a prove it deal in a situation that helps him pump up his value. A lot like Aminu was. I think getting him will be more about his comfort level with the role we offer and playing time he could get with regards to depth more than anything.

[Magnum_3_Ball]

Originally Posted by Bryan_Wilson

The thing with Mario that has me reluctant to trade for him with anything of value is he is in the final year of his deal and the Magic declined to offer him is QO. So whoever trades for him has him for this year and then he is an UFA. If he were to be a RFA following the season, like Noel was, then I'd be more willing to do it. As it stands nobody is throwing anything remotely close to a max at him obviously. So why not wait till free agency and get him then since nobody will have any sort of real advantage in recruiting him.

Edit- and we don't need to worry about having his rights to go over the cap to sign him because in the extremely unlikely event that we sign a max player and use up the cap I find it hard to believe Mario gets anything above exception level money which we could offer him. I think he's going to be a guy who signs a prove it deal in a situation that helps him pump up his value. A lot like Aminu was. I think getting him will be more about his comfort level with the role we offer and playing time he could get with regards to depth more than anything.

Great point. I wasn't really thinking about that.

[tap2390]

I’d take him as a flyer over Seth Curry this off-season, but I’d refuse to trade anything of value for him, even our second round pick.

[Magnum_3_Ball]

Hezonja drawing the start tonight vs HOU with Aaron Gordon out. Might get another start tomorrow night vs LAL too.

[Magnum_3_Ball]

Just read this note. Prior to tonight, Hezonja has started nine games for Orlando in 2017-18 and is averaging 14.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 30.7 minutes over those nine starts.

[Magnum_3_Ball]

Last 5 games Mario Hezonja is averaging 27.6 mpg 15.0 ppg 4.0 rpg 2.2 apg 2.8 treys 1.0 spg 1.2 bpg 1.4 TOs, while shooting 53.1% FG 56% from 3, 100% FT

I'd like a look at him. SG with size that can definitely shoot the ball & stretch the floor for DSJ. With his label coming into this season as a draft bust, I doubt he'd break the bank. I think he's a rotation player. He's basically what you hope our 2nd round draft pick could grow into. According to rumors everyone not named Aaron Gordon or Jonathan Isaac is available in ORL.

[saclare]

What's your trade proposal?

[Magnum_3_Ball]

Originally Posted by saclare

What's your trade proposal?

Actually, I like what Bryan_Wilson said earlier in this thread. We should just wait until the offseason when he's an UFA & sign him then. It's a buyer's market, so he won't be outrageous. In all likelihood, he'll only receive a 1 year mid-level exception offer, which is going to be like 8 mil this offseason. The Mavs could probably land him just by offering him 2 yrs and 16 mil or something thereabouts. Throw in a club option for year 3.

If he's good, then great we have a promising young player on a team friendly deal. If he sucks, then great helps us stay near the top of the draft next year & his contract will be easy to offload/will come off the books soon.

[saclare]

I like it, although I think he may come even cheaper than that? But that may be right in line. Betting he'd love to get away from the Magic.

He's playing well as of late. Will definitely follow his progress for the remainder of the season.

[Magnum_3_Ball]

Originally Posted by saclare

I like it, although I think he may come even cheaper than that?

Yeah, with where the market will be this offseason, I could definitely see the low end of the market for Hezonja being around 1 year 5 mil, maybe even as low as 3.5 mil. Maybe we could get him for 2 yrs 12 mil. To be honest, there won't be many teams that can offer him even that much.

[Magnum_3_Ball]

According to Yahoo Sports the Magic are shopping Mario Hezonja and Elfrid Payton. I actually like Payton a lot. He's a tough, gritty kid that plays hard and has that competitive fire, won't take any guff from anybody attitude. Similar to how Jerry Stackhouse was. I also don't think Payton's gotten the proper coaching or development in ORL, yet he's right at that 2.5 - 1 asst/TO ratio you want to see out of a PG. I could definitely see him as a backup to DSJ, even run them together some times & have DSJ play off the ball.

Hezonja has been discussed plenty in this thread. ORL doesn't plan on resigning either it sounds like, so while the plan was why not just sign him in the offseason instead of trade our 2nd for him, the risk is the Paul George effect. If you like either Hezonja or Payton, then you might as well deal your 2nd because if they go to a team that wants them, has a good experience the 2nd half of the season & gets a good offer from that team, then you're playing from behind if you wanna sign them. Not to mention that team gets all of that extra time in practice to see what they actually have before they put out a multi-year offer.

Payton is a RFA, so trading for him now gives you the upperhand this summer. I honestly like them both over anyone we'd draft in the 2nd round. Maybe... mayyyyyybe someone falls to us there a Bates-Diop or Troy Brown type, but maybe not. Also, those guys are unproven vs NBA talent, but these two we know what they can do & they're still both very young. They fit with our time table.

[mac222b]

As I understand it, trading for Hezonja would mean we could only offer him around 5m or whatever his hold is. So it might actually lessen our chances of securing him after this season if we traded for him

[Magnum_3_Ball]

Originally Posted by mac222b

As I understand it, trading for Hezonja would mean we could only offer him around 5m or whatever his hold is. So it might actually lessen our chances of securing him after this season if we traded for him

How is that? Sorry, I'm unaware. I'm sure you're right, but I'm unfamiliar with all of the NBA FA rules. Honestly, it's like you have to go to school for a Masters degree to understand all of that Bird's rights nonsense.

[Magnum_3_Ball]

DAMN. We should of offered our 2nd for Elfrid Payton. Geez.

PHX just robbed ORL

[Magnum_3_Ball]

Hezonja's line tonight vs CHI: 30 min 24 pts 8/14 FGs 3/4 treys 5/6 FTs 6 rebs 0 asst 4 stls 3 blks 1 TO

Guy has been pretty impressive every time he gets 25-30 min. Seeing what he's done since Gordon's been out, there's no question he's worth a 2nd round pick---not given the contract considerations, I'm just talking about talent wise. Like if he were in this year's upcoming draft, he's probably being taken somewhere between 8-15, definitely in the top 20.

[MavzMan]

Agree that he would 100% be worth at least a 2nd if he were under contract. But he's a UFA after this season. Why give up a second for a rental on the last 1/3 of the season when we will seriously be pushing the tank? Better to keep your flexibility (i'm starting to hate that word) and use it to just sign the guy outright in the off season.

[Magnum_3_Ball]

That's the route any team that wants Mario is going to have to go now. The only problem now is he's showing signs of why he was taken 5th overall. A team like the 76ers, Rockets, Bucks, etc could all use him & offer him the MLE. He may prefer to go to a team that's more competitive than come here. Then we'd have to offer more to get him interested, and then you have to ask yourself is he worth it?

Who knows what will happen, but I think by July 1 he'll no longer be flying under the radar. ORL would probably be smart to try & retain him.

[saclare]

He will go where he gets the opportunity to start, especially if he keeps playing like this. The money will likely be the same across a few teams, so I'm thinking that's his initial lean is playing time.

[Magnum_3_Ball]

Originally Posted by saclare

He will go where he gets the opportunity to start, especially if he keeps playing like this. The money will likely be the same across a few teams, so I'm thinking that's his initial lean is playing time.

Yeah that makes sense. Although, I wouldn't blame him if he sacrificed a little PT to be a more competitive team. You're right though. He's still young enough & unproven that he might want to go where he can get the most PT & make a name for himself.

Just read this morning that ORL declined his player option for next year (prior to this break out). Bet they're regretting that. Lol

[saclare]

Yea that wasn't a huge QO/option on him, either. Weird for such a high draft pick and team that can seemingly afford to see out all young talent.

[Magnum_3_Ball]

"Super" Mario continues to impress. Lol

21 pts 10 rebs 3 asst 2 stl 0 blk 0 TOs on 10/20 shooting w/ 1 trey. Played 35 min & assumed the lead scoring role. Nearly led the Magic to a win tonight too.

[Magnum_3_Ball]

Anybody know if this is true?

I read that the Magic can only offer Hezonja $5.2 mil, because that's the amount they declined on his team option. If that's the case, then it would seem like there's no chance Hezonja is with the Magic next year... not to mention, he's probably looking to leave, anyways.

[Bryan_Wilson]

Originally Posted by Magnum_3_Ball

Anybody know if this is true?

I read that the Magic can only offer Hezonja $5.2 mil, because that's the amount they declined on his team option. If that's the case, then it would seem like there's no chance Hezonja is with the Magic next year... not to mention, he's probably looking to leave, anyways.

Hmm, I'm not sure I'll have to look into that. If so that is a bit odd. Not aware of that rule in that case. If that is true though I would imagine they could rescind their bird rights on him and be able to offer him the same amount as anyone else.

[Magnum_3_Ball]

Hezonja has played better than his career averages since Gordon & Vucevic's return these past 2 games. I still like him as a low-cost, role player if we can get him for that.

That said, he posted the worst plus/minus total for ORL in both of these past 2 games.

[Magnum_3_Ball]

This is a 10:55 min video on Hezonja with a few interesting facts on him:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtIX3C_ENJI


A couple of good points the video brings up is how the Magic have jerked him around with his minutes a lot during his career. They've changed coaches, they tried him as a stretch 4, they would sit him for a stretch of games & then play him for 30 min a game. This most recent stretch of 20-30 min a game has been the most consistent stretch of playing time during his career, and maybe not coincidentally, he's played the best of his career in response.

Also, I didn't know Hezonja was rumored to have done every dunk from Zach LaVine's dunk championship performance in a practice. I did see him do a half-windmill on a break away steal a couple games back. Dude is more athletic than I knew.


Edit: One other thing the video brings up that I haven't heard too many people, not just on this forum but around the internet, talk about is how when the Magic declined his team option they pretty much gave up on Mario. Players don't usually tend to resign with teams that give up on them.

[tap2390]

Magic can only offer Mario $5.2 million after declining his option. I’d like to see us work out a one or two year deal with him for $8-12 million per year. I’d definitely like to have him over McDermott or Finney-Smith.

Chances are we’ll have to outbid the Kings because Vlade will pay anyone who has a slightly European name.

[Magnum_3_Ball]

The video suggests Hezonja's market will be 2 years with a team option for year 3. I think the Mavs would be fine to sign him to a 2 year deal for $15 mil and a team option for year 3 at the same $7.5 mil. The only thing I don't like about that is, the Mavs aren't going to contend in the next 3 years & if Hezonja does prove to be valuable, then we'd really have to pay him to have him around for the contending years when maybe we can't afford it.

I might prefer a 4 year deal for $20 mil with a team option for year 5. No one is going to be offering him 4 years, and at $5 mil a season that's not going to be impossible to move if he doesn't pan out.