By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors are actively pursuing Mario Hezonja in a race to bring the former 5th-overall draft pick back to the NBA following a six-year hiatus, as reported by ESPN senior NBA insider Shams Charania on Friday.
With the free-agency market finally unfrozen by LeBron James’ announcement, both front offices have immediately pivoted to secure the 31-year-old Croatian star. Initial reports confirmed that Hezonja’s sweepstakes were deliberately kept on hold while teams reserved cap space and roster flexibility for the Akron native. Now that the landscape has settled, the Cavaliers and Warriors are both aggressively prioritizing Hezonja to resolve pressing depth issues on their wings.
The Dubrovnik native, who recently claimed Regular Season Most Valuable Player honors in Spain’s Liga Endesa, is fully determined to chase a second opportunity in the NBA. To facilitate the comeback, he positioned himself to clear an $850,000 buyout clause with EuroLeague powerhouse Real Madrid. Severe luxury tax limitations and rigid financial constraints have restricted both Cleveland and Golden State from landing higher-priced stars, making a seasoned, highly motivated veteran like Hezonja the ideal low-risk, high-reward target on a cost-efficient deal.
The Warriors And Cavs Are Expected To Aggressively Pursue Mario Hezonja After Failing To Get LeBron. Per, @ShamsCharania
“Another player getting interest from Cleveland and Golden State is Mario Hezonja.” https://t.co/Wk8xOWOnqv pic.twitter.com/NDONOAeaak
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) July 24, 2026
This move marks a fresh start for Hezonja, who logged 335 NBA games with the Orlando Magic, New York Knicks, and Portland Trail Blazers earlier in his career. However, it is his legendary resume outside the NBA that defines his status as an elite international star. He built a powerhouse reputation in the EuroLeague, winning the prestigious championship title with Real Madrid in 2023, reaching the championship game again in 2024 and 2026, and earning an All-EuroLeague Second Team selection for the 2023–24 season. His continental dominance spans across stints with Panathinaikos, UNICS, and FC Barcelona, racking up four ACB titles and a Greek League championship.
On the international stage, Hezonja has been a key player for the Croatian national team. A veteran of the FIBA World Cup 2014 and the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, he was recently named the MVP of the European Qualifiers First Round. Now widely recognized as a far more mature and polished playmaker than the raw prospect who left the NBA in 2020, he will join a squad intent on maximizing his proven international pedigree.
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