Once destined to become a cast-off when the season ends, Mario Hezonja wants to return to the New York Knicks for another year.
President Steve Mills and general manager Scott Perry’s $6.5 million investment on Mario Hezonja long seemed like a failure. Questionable decision-making, enigmatic offensive performances and lapses on defense caused this New York Knicks forward to hit the bench on multiple occasions, until this eye-opening, late-season experiment.
A 30-point game and a triple-double in Hezonja’s last two games, both of which as the point forward, suddenly gives him intrigue, in a role head coach David Fizdale only tried without Dennis Smith Jr. and Emmanuel Mudiay available.
Now, it has Hezonja talking future with the Knicks, or at least wanting to, per Steve Popper of Newsday. The 24 year old is “ready to talk to Dolan,” and has personal ties with the organization’s major players.
"“I’m ready to talk to [Madison Square Garden executive chairman James] Dolan,” Hezonja said. “If he gives me that call on July 1, we’re done. But yeah, my second family is in this organization. Steve [Mills] was the guy that first called me when Phil Jackson was here. Scott Perry drafted me. Fiz came to L.A. to bring me here. [Assistant coach Keith Smart], he’s like my second father right here. So just wonderful relationships with everybody in the organization. The city embraced me to the fullest. I just love playing here.“We’ll see. But also, free agency, that was my first time last year, so I know it’s crazy. People calling all over the place and all those All-Stars and everything. I’ll be patient. But we all know where I want to be. We’ll see.”"
Maybe this late run places him in New York’s immediate future on another short-term deal. That allows him a spot on a potentially redesigned roster, with approximately $70 million in cap space to use in free agency — most of which could go to Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
If both players sign, Hezonja unique frame can at least create interesting lineups. He stands 6-foot-8 but plays like a guard. While this may have flaws, sticking him with Irving, Durant, Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson in a lineup makes for a tall, athletic group to use at times.
However, most of this season was a struggle for Hezonja in New York, and even if he wants to return, it takes two to tango, which might not develop until after free agency’s biggest names decide if they want to play at Madison Square Garden. Then comes the lesser players to fill out the market, including Perry’s former draft pick in Orlando.
If not the Knicks, did this point forward run secure Hezonja at least another NBA season? His stretch before this was averages that hovered around 40 percent shooting and below 30 percent from three-point range, and after three down years in Orlando, it could have made offseason interest low.
Now, teams may see Hezonja as this athletic, versatile player that can help them in 2019-20. Maybe not at $6.5 million, but guaranteed money in a reserve role, especially for the teams that lose on signing the offseason’s top players.
Hezonja has created an interesting future for himself, and he wants to stay in Manhattan. Will the New York Knicks feel the same?