Hezonja provided 10 points (4-6 FG, 2-3 3Pt), six rebounds, two assists and one steal in 17 minutes during Thursday's 114-111 loss to the Hawks.
After spending the past six seasons overseas, the veteran forward is carving out a consistent bench role in his return to the states for the Cavaliers right away. Over his first five appearances, Hezonja has averaged 7.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 17.4 minutes per game.
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Cavaliers' Mario Hezonja: Scores 10 off bench
Rotowire
Hezonja produced 10 points (5-13 FG, 0-5 3Pt), three rebounds, two assists, one block and two steals in 19 minutes during Thursday's 114-106 loss to Philadelphia.
Hezonja provided an offensive spark off Cleveland's bench but struggled from long range, missing all five three-point attempts. His contributions in the defensive categories were encouraging, though his modest workload could limit his fantasy appeal unless he establishes a larger role in the rotation.
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Cavaliers' Mario Hezonja: Scores 12 in preseason finale
Rotowire
Hezonja recorded 12 points (4-10 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 2-2 FT), six rebounds, two assists and two steals across 21 minutes in Tuesday's 132-116 preseason loss to the Magic.
Hezonja delivered a well-rounded performance off Cleveland's bench, making half of his four attempts from beyond the arc while contributing across several statistical categories. His six rebounds tied Jarrett Allen for the team lead, and he was the only Cavaliers player to record multiple steals. Although his overall shooting efficiency was modest, Hezonja showed an ability to contribute without requiring a significant offensive workload. His preseason production offers an encouraging glimpse of his potential value in a reserve role, and he's likely to see steady minutes as an offensive weapon off the bench once the regular season starts.
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Cavaliers' Mario Hezonja: Plays well off bench
Rotowire
Hezonja recorded 13 points (5-9 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 1-1 FT), five rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks in 17 minutes during Sunday's 119-105 preseason win over Orlando.
Hezonja bounced back from a difficult preseason debut, contributing across the board while shooting efficiently from beyond the arc. The veteran forward displayed the versatility Cleveland hopes to utilize in its second unit, and Sunday's performance should help his case for consistent rotation minutes. However, his fantasy outlook will depend on how much playing time he can secure in a crowded Cavaliers rotation.
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Cavaliers' Mario Hezonja: In mix for rotational spot
Rotowire
Head coach Kenny Atkinson said Hezonja is "going to be in the mix" for a spot in Cleveland's rotation to begin the 2026-27 campaign, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com reports.
The Cavaliers essentially have four of their starting five confirmed, and Peyton Watson (hamstring) appears likely to slot into that fifth spot. However, training camp will be important in determining who else fills out the rotation. Hezonja, the fifth overall pick in 2015, hasn't played in the NBA since the 2019-20 season but has plenty of experience overseas. The Cavaliers boast a deep roster heading into training camp, and players like Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson and Nae'Qwan Tomlin are all likely to challenge Hezonja for minutes. Furthermore, Craig Porter, Tyrese Proctor and rookie Meleek Thomas will also be competing for playing time off the bench.
