Mario Hezonja officially signs one-year deal with Cleveland Cavaliers

Mario Hezonja is set to begin the second chapter of his NBA career after officially signing a one-year deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The league has now logged the agreement, confirming the Croatian forward's move.

While Cleveland had not issued a formal announcement by Friday afternoon, Hezonja's name appeared in the NBA's transaction records, solidifying the transfer. Real Madrid still lists him on their roster, but this does not alter the deal's finality. The 30-year-old forward will play in the NBA for the first time since 2020.

The Cavaliers had prioritized acquiring Hezonja, who himself sought a return to the U.S. after a successful European run. During the 2025/26 season, he was a key player for Real Madrid in the EuroLeague, averaging 13.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists over 44 games.

Hezonja is no stranger to the NBA, having previously played for the Orlando Magic, New York Knicks, and Portland Trail Blazers. In 330 career appearances, he averaged 6.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists.

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According to the NBA’s publicly available transactions log, Cleveland has today completed the signing of a Mario Hezonja to a one-year deal.