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Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
Summary
Hezonja has not lived up to the expectations that many had for him after he was drafted 5th overall in 2015 by Orlando. While Hezonja shows flashes of the talent that got him drafted that high, he has never been able to score consistently at any kind of efficient rate. Additionally, those that worried about Hezonja's defense and attitude have been mostly correct, as Hezonja has struggled on defense and has occasionally pouted out of frustration.
The Trailblazers certainly needed forwards this past season, and gave Hezonja every opportunity to contribute. However, he was unable to do so and his market would be very dry this offseason if he entered free agency. Hezonja has good size that allows him to play the four, which is necessary as he cannot be trusted to stay in front of wings on defense. If Hezonja can do a better job of using his scoring ability to attack of the catch as a secondary playmaker, he could stick around in the NBA. If he doesn't, and continues to hit outside shots at a below-average rate, he could be out of the league soon.
Cap Considerations
Hezonja has a $2 million player option for next season, and if he declines that option he will be an unrestricted free agent with a $1.6 million cap hold and Non-Bird Rights. If Hezonja opts for free agency, the Trailblazers will be limited in their means of re-signing him. Since they will only have his Non-Bird Rights, the most they could offer him using the Non-Bird Exception is a contract starting at $2.3 million.
However, the Trailblazers could use their Mid-Level Exception to re-sign Hezonja as well, or cap space if they operate under the salary cap. The Trailblazers will likely have the full $9.3 million Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception available, or a similar amount of cap space, which they could use all or part of to re-sign Hezonja.
Other teams will have multiple ways to sign Hezonja as even teams without cap space could possibly use any of the Non-Taxpayer, Taxpayer, or Room Mid-Level Exceptions to sign him. Since he signed a minimum contract last offseason, teams will hope to get him at the minimum this offseason too.
Potential Teams: Pistons, Hawks, Pelicans, Trailblazers, Heat
Predicted Contract: Opt In: $2 million
If Opt Out: 2-year, $6 million with the Pistons
Actual Contract: Opt In: $2 million
Hezonja predictably opted in, and was waived by the Grizzlies after being traded from Portland. As of the start of the regular season, he remains unsigned.
Last updated: 12/31/2020
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