Mario Hezonja plays 19.3 minutes a night on a $2.4M contract for a team over the tax line. He doesn't have to be the scorer; he has to defend, rebound and stop giving the ball away.
What is Hezonja's job on this roster?
He is a 31-year-old forward-guard in his fifth year, wearing No. 33. Last season's minutes put him behind Mitchell, Mobley, Harden, Watson, Allen, Merrill and Tyson. That makes him a rotation wing, not a starter. Cleveland needs him to cover forward minutes without the offense stalling. It is a real job, and a narrow one.
What does his last-season line actually say?
Two games: 9.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.5 blocks in 19.3 minutes. He shot 44.4 percent from the field, 25.0 percent from three on four attempts a night, and 50.0 percent at the line. He also turned it over twice a game. The activity stands out. The shooting does not, and two games is a small sample.
Do the advanced numbers back him up?
Mostly on defense. His defensive rating was 101.2 against an offensive rating of 112.0, a net rating of plus 10.8. Usage was 23.0 percent, a big share for a bench wing, with true shooting at 50.3 percent. His assist rate was 12.0 percent and his rebound rate 8.5. If he keeps that usage, the efficiency has to rise.
What is being said about him around the club?
Fear The Sword ran a piece on Hezonja waving off Donovan Mitchell, built around the line "I'm here to help you." Cleveland.com's Ethan Sands reported on his return after a Liga MVP in Spain, with Hezonja calling himself a "brand new, better version." Those are their stories and his words. They are not results.
Is he healthy, and who does he play with?
He is not on the injury report. There are no lineup numbers for him from last season, so no five-man group can be tied to him. Minnesota arrives tonight at 3-0 and on a back-to-back, with Edwards, McDaniels and Gobert. That is a fair test of whether a 31-year-old wing holds up in his minutes.
How much does Mario Hezonja make with the Cavaliers?
His 2026-27 salary is $2.4M, one of the smallest on a roster whose payroll sits at $209.0M.
What did Mario Hezonja average last season?
In two games he averaged 9.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 19.3 minutes. He shot 25.0 percent from three.
