Free Agent Todo Las Cosas 'Super Mario' Hezonja

[Fez Hammersticks]

How can he not be our #1 target this summer? S2 was calling for Neil to trade for him since last summer. The Magic not picking up his option makes signing him a little difficult considering our cap issue.

However, Does Neil even have the awareness of his talent? Remember, during the post-draft interview Neil said that he didn't realize that Zach Collins was a lotto pick until a few games leading up to the March Madness tourney—that is John Nash awarenes, and the reason why this team is smack dab in the middle of purgatory.

Anyway, back to Mario. Ladies, what say you?

 

[KeepOnRollin]

We can only offer the mid-level MLE, correct? I would assume hes price himself out of that and into the larger MLE at least.

 

[hoopsjock]

How can he not be our #1 target this summer? S2 was calling for Neil to trade for him since last summer. The Magic not picking up his option makes signing him a little difficult considering our cap issue.

However, Does Neil even have the awareness of his talent? Remember, during the post-draft interview Neil said that he didn't realize that Zach Collins was a lotto pick until a few games leading up to the March Madness tourney—that is John Nash awarenes, and the reason why this team is smack dab in the middle of purgatory.

Anyway, back to Mario. Ladies, what say you?

I thought Neil said he went to a game and knew almost immediately that Collins would be a lottery pick?

BTW, stupid Orlando! They do the dumbest things.

 

[Scalma]

We can only offer the mid-level MLE, correct? I would assume hes price himself out of that and into the larger MLE at least.

I highly doubt Mario gets 8m. That’ll go to guys like Tyreke Evans and JJ Redick. Tax payer MLE sounds about right. But if he keeps balling maybe he does.

Annoying because I bet we could’ve had him earlier in the year for relatively nothing.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

I highly doubt Mario gets 8m. That’ll go to guys like Tyreke Evans and JJ Redick. Tax payer MLE sounds about right. But if he keeps balling maybe he does.

Annoying because I bet we could’ve had him earlier in the year for relatively nothing.

I think he has been balling for long enough this year. I would rather have him than Evans due to the latter's injury history. How many teams will have the larger MLE? 10-15? A lot of them will have it burning a hole in their pocket.

 

[Lukee]

Thank you for this thread.

 

[AFully22]

I thought Neil said he went to a game and knew almost immediately that Collins would be a lottery pick?

BTW, stupid Orlando! They do the dumbest things.

He also said that he knew Collins was a top 10 pick when he saw him trail a fast break to nail a three and then the next play made a behind the back pass for an easy layup, Collins finished that game with 0 three pt attempts and 0 assists.

 

[Sarni]

Orlando are such an unbelievably stupid team, it's beyond any logic. If you track back their move the last 3-5 years, nearly all of them are bafflingly stupid. Allowing Harris to leave for nothing because they wanted cap space and ending up with $17M Biyombo, letting Oladipo and Sabonis go for an expiring Ibaka who was never going to sign there, allowing Harkless and Napier join us for nothing in return. Wow.

Hezonja is another one. Why would you decline team option on a rookie scale deal on a very young player? Worst case scenario you can pretty much always move him for a small asset in the off-season. If you asked a team for a second rounder, they would offer it. Or you could just keep him for another year for an extra $5M or so, that won't hurt. Instead they have just declined his option and ensured that he would leave them.

He is one of those players a team like Nets or Chicago could offer a stupid deal and take a punt on. I think he will price himself out of the kind of contract we will be able to offer.

 

[jlprk]

Annoying because I bet we could’ve had him earlier in the year for relatively nothing.

Agree. A good GM recognizes talent before a message board does, not after.

 

[CupWizier]

Agree. A good GM recognizes talent before a message board does, not after.

Now that's pretty funny.

 

[hoopsjock]

Agree. A good GM recognizes talent before a message board does, not after.

This is NOT on Olshey. Trading for Hezonja results in his Bird Rights going away. This is because Orlando is fucking stupid. So we trade for him, he plays well, and then we lose him in the off-season and whatever it took to get him? Yeah, sounds like a great plan!

BTW, this is the same reason trades for Jahlil Okafor, Nerlens Noel, and Tyreke Evans would have been incredibly dumb moves.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

https://fansided.com/2018/02/19/mario-hezonja-curse-bravado-gift-opportunity/

 

[BonesJones]

This is NOT on Olshey. Trading for Hezonja results in his Bird Rights going away. This is because Orlando is fucking stupid. So we trade for him, he plays well, and then we lose him in the off-season and whatever it took to get him? Yeah, sounds like a great plan!

BTW, this is the same reason trades for Jahlil Okafor, Nerlens Noel, and Tyreke Evans would have been incredibly dumb moves.

I agree for the most part, but trades for Noel, Evans, or Herzonja make sense if it was an extremely low price tag (such as a 2nd round pick and Layman)

 

[hoopsjock]

I agree for the most part, but trades for Noel, Evans, or Herzonja make sense if it was an extremely low price tag (such as a 2nd round pick and Layman)

Any of those trades would have put us back into the luxury tax though for a 3 month rental plus we'd lose a 2nd. I don't really see the point in doing that. Noel could veto trades this year too. Why would he want to go to a team that he knows can't pay him what he thinks he's worth in the summer?

Edit: It doesn't appear that those guys were available for just a 2nd rounder either.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Btw, his role has altered a bit during his mini-breakout.

Instead of playing SG/SF, they've moved him into a SF/PF role and he's thriving.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Btw, his role has altered a bit during his mini-breakout.

Instead of playing SG/SF, they've moved him into a SF/PF role and he's thriving.

He is playing 75% of his minutes at PF (which they state in the article above). They are concerned he may not be able to guard most SF's.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Oh fruddle duds, Mario is playing his way out of our price range.

Orlando will regret declining his QO.

 

[Blazinaway]

bring back Barton!

 

[chzbrgr]

bring back Barton!

It was just reported he turned down 4 for 42 from Denver so the dream is alive!

But I’d rather have Mario

 

[PDXFonz]

He also said that he knew Collins was a top 10 pick when he saw him trail a fast break to nail a three and then the next play made a behind the back pass for an easy layup, Collins finished that game with 0 three pt attempts and 0 assists.

Don't forget that interview when he mentioned being there for Zach's birth, in awe as he watched the 4 foot tall child being born.

 

[jlprk]

Bump. And a rep to Fez.

 

[Scalma]

I think this summer Portland will finally get Hezonja...on a minimum contract.

Layman’s play makes Aminu difficult to keep, so we will need some cheap depth. Hezonja had his most productive season last year in Orlando primarily playing power forward. He hasn’t been good in NY, but that to me just means he’ll be affordable. He’ll only be 24 next season. We wanted him last summer. We know how Olshey is with guys he’s been interested in the past. Nurkic is close with Hezonja. So is Kanter (who may fit into the tax MLE)

It’s a reclamation project, yes, but one I can see coming from miles away.

 

[Blazer4ever]

How can he not be our #1 target this summer? S2 was calling for Neil to trade for him since last summer. The Magic not picking up his option makes signing him a little difficult considering our cap issue.

However, Does Neil even have the awareness of his talent? Remember, during the post-draft interview Neil said that he didn't realize that Zach Collins was a lotto pick until a few games leading up to the March Madness tourney—that is John Nash awarenes, and the reason why this team is smack dab in the middle of purgatory.

Anyway, back to Mario. Ladies, what say you?

He is a good player, very athletic, I wouldn't bring him in mid-season as we already need to adjust to maybe too many new faces but if we can afford him in the summer I think it would be a solid acquisition

 

[BonesJones]

Herzonja is garbage. Enough reclamation projects.

 

[Scalma]

Herzonja is garbage. Enough reclamation projects.

You’re right. Let’s get a two way player to come to Portland for the vet minimum.

 

[BonesJones]

You’re right. Let’s get a two way player to come to Portland for the vet minimum.

Are you calling Herzonja a two-way player? Lmao. If only he was a one-way player.

Herzonja isn't gonna go anywhere where he won't get an opportunity. He'd originally rather go back to Europe than be a benchwarmer in the NBA. So you're talking about playing a guy who has proven to be a terrible player over his entire career.

Enough of playing guys like Stauskas or Herzonja. We want to compete in the postseason, right? Then why do we keep asking for reclamation projects to be in our rotation? Makes zero sense.

 

[TBpup]

Enough of playing guys like Stauskas or Herzonja. We want to compete in the postseason, right? Then why do we keep asking for reclamation projects to be in our rotation? Makes zero sense.

....but that is Neil's way.

 

[Scalma]

Are you calling Herzonja a two-way player? Lmao. If only he was a one-way player.

If I was then my previous quote wouldn’t make much sense, would it?

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Are you calling Herzonja a two-way player? Lmao. If only he was a one-way player.

Herzonja isn't gonna go anywhere where he won't get an opportunity. He'd originally rather go back to Europe than be a benchwarmer in the NBA. So you're talking about playing a guy who has proven to be a terrible player over his entire career.

Enough of playing guys like Stauskas or Herzonja. We want to compete in the postseason, right? Then why do we keep asking for reclamation projects to be in our rotation? Makes zero sense.

I think the thought is that when we're talking about players who are going to take the minimum, they're going to be by definition players currently perceived as "garbage", otherwise they'd command a much larger deal.

With that understanding, what type of player or characteristics do you think would be the best to target with a vet min offer (if necessary to fill out the roster)?

 

[illmatic99]

Herzonja is garbage. Enough reclamation projects.

Are you calling Herzonja a two-way player? Lmao. If only he was a one-way player.

Herzonja isn't gonna go anywhere where he won't get an opportunity. He'd originally rather go back to Europe than be a benchwarmer in the NBA. So you're talking about playing a guy who has proven to be a terrible player over his entire career.

Enough of playing guys like Stauskas or Herzonja. We want to compete in the postseason, right? Then why do we keep asking for reclamation projects to be in our rotation? Makes zero sense.

It's HEzonja. No R