Mario Hezonja's $2.8 Million Cavaliers Deadline Is Two Weeks Away

Mario Hezonja has 15 days before his contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers becomes fully guaranteed.

Cleveland signed the 31-year-old Croatian forward to a one-year, $2.8 million deal with no guaranteed money at signing. His salary becomes fully guaranteed if he stays on the roster past Nov. 15, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported on Aug. 1.

That date comes almost two months ahead of the January guarantee date on most non-guaranteed deals. Cleveland also has little room below its first-apron hard cap, and the league told teams in August that signing a player and waiving him at no cost so he could go back to Europe could bring a fine.

Hezonja has played between 15 and 20 minutes off the bench in every game. He is averaging 7.4 points and 4.0 rebounds, and his 35.3% from 3-point range would be the best of his NBA career.

His first regular-season game back came against the Philadelphia 76ers, when he waved off Donovan Mitchell late and backed Anfernee Simons down for a basket. Cleveland gave up a 29-point lead that night and lost 114-106.

The Cavaliers are 3-2 after Thursday's 114-111 loss in Atlanta. For Saturday's game in Milwaukee, Jaylon Tyson is out with a right ankle sprain, and Meleek Thomas is questionable with right foot inflammation.

"Really good," Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said of Hezonja after the loss to the Hawks. "We needed him. We were searching a little bit, trying to find someone on the wing that was going to step up and he stepped up."

Cleveland has used his 6-foot-9, 255-pound frame against mismatches in the post and around the rim, according to Chris Fedor of cleveland.com. Teammates make Mario sounds and motions on the bench for him, a nod to his "Super Mario" nickname.

Atkinson has talked repeatedly about settling on a stable 10-man rotation.

"It's a hard transformation," Atkinson explained. "I think he's doing great, honestly. Just right now it's early. He's still getting to know everybody. We're getting to know him as coaches, where he fits, and as we get to know each other better, it'll improve the whole thing."

Hezonja spent the last six seasons in Europe, the final four with Real Madrid. The club confirmed his departure July 31.

He left as the 2025-26 Liga Endesa MVP. In Madrid, he won six trophies, including the 2023 EuroLeague title and two Spanish league championships.

He and the Cavaliers reached agreement July 26, his agent, Michael Tellem of Excel Sports Management, told ESPN, which first reported the deal. Signing him took several more days of paperwork and international clearance with Real Madrid.

Dean Wade had left Cleveland for Philadelphia in free agency on a four-year, $39 million contract.

Back in 2015, the Orlando Magic took Hezonja fifth overall. His last NBA game before this season came in 2020.

"I remember looking like a child," Hezonja said before camp. "I was super-talented, but I didn't have the physique for the NBA. Now I'm 6-foot-9, 260. That definitely adds to the versatility Kenny can use and Donovan and James and my teammates."

His guarantee date falls two days after Cleveland's NBA Cup game at Miami on Nov. 13.