ESPN.com: Sources: Mario Hezonja agrees with Knicks on one-year, $6.5M deal

Woj and Ian Begley report:

Free-agent forward Mario Hezonja has agreed to a one-year, $6.5 million deal with the New York Knicks, league sources told ESPN.

The Knicks are hopeful that Hezonja, 23, will fulfill the potential to become the complete player that made him the fifth overall pick by the Magic in the 2015 NBA draft.

On the pro side of things, Hezonja showed some real signs of turning his career around after Orlando embarsssingly turned down his fourth year team option. I was interested in seeing him sign with the Knicks, so in a vaccuum, it’s a great risk on a still young player that was showing real signs of improvement. The Knicks might be able to flip him for a draft pick.

On the con side of things, since it was only a one year deal, the Knicks did not gain his Bird rights, so if he performs well, they would have to use their cap space to sign him. Plus, his cap hold will be relatively high.

So this is probably a relatively unimportant signing, but, hey, at least they didn’t give him a player option for year two! Baby steps!

Knicks Morning News (2018.07.01)

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