Should the Magic resign Mario Hezonja?

[fendilim]

WAS THERE EVER A DOUBT?

[tooler]

I don't mind if this team sucks for a long time, but it makes me very angry that they trade away or fail to retain players that at least I enjoy watching occasionally or catching the highlights for.

[shadrock]

I'll be stunned if Mario comes back. We would have to give him substantially more money for him to stay. While it was an understandable decision at the time for them not to pick up his option, it was a huge mistake. If he was restricted, I think there's a decent chance we would match an offer. But he can go anywhere. Maybe he and Vogel have come to a better understanding of each other, but would you want to come back and play for an organization that hindered your development?

22 years old.
3rd season in the nba.
5th pick in the draft.

And we gave up on him...

And you say it was understandable they gave up on him? To me, this move alone is grounds for ownership to fire these two peanuts already. Absolutely unforgivable. They better be doing every single thing within their power to rectify this situation right now. Offer him starters minutes, extra money, player options. Whatever it takes.

He deserves an apology as well from coaching staff and management for not understanding how to develop him and not picking up the option.

[pepe1991]

Imo he will wait to see who Magic keep for next season. If Simmons, Evan and Ross are there , and Gordon is back at SF or something like that why da hell he would stay ? To be third string SG and PF again ?

However, if Magic clean up a roster a little bit, where he is starter of 26-30 mpg player as 6th man with 10-14 FGA a night than he will probably take one year deal and bet on himself to get more $$ in 2020

By far biggest reason why nobody wanted to trade for him is his bird rights that stop team that has him to sign him for anything more than $5,2M and 5% raise in next years. Basically team that has him by default offers the least .

[woosah]

Imo he will wait to see who Magic keep for next season. If Simmons, Evan and Ross are there , and Gordon is back at SF or something like that why da hell he would stay ? To be third string SG and PF again ?

However, if Magic clean up a roster a little bit, where he is starter of 26-30 mpg player as 6th man with 10-14 FGA a night than he will probably take one year deal and bet on himself to get more $$ in 2020

By far biggest reason why nobody wanted to trade for him is his bird rights that stop team that has him to sign him for anything more than $5,2M and 5% raise in next years. Basically team that has him by default offers the least .

I can't see it. I don't think they move from Simms and TRoss will trump here. I see no place for him to start. It's probably why they decided to cut the losses and set him free. I still think you keep any asset. Use in a trade in the draft or something. Just kthxbai is not a good look.

[TKainZero]

The magic just can't do anything right

They didn't pick hezonja up, now they are starting him and he is doing great. And he can just go to any other team!!!

They not tender and just dump for a 2nd rounder.

[pepe1991]

Imo he will wait to see who Magic keep for next season. If Simmons, Evan and Ross are there , and Gordon is back at SF or something like that why da hell he would stay ? To be third string SG and PF again ?

However, if Magic clean up a roster a little bit, where he is starter of 26-30 mpg player as 6th man with 10-14 FGA a night than he will probably take one year deal and bet on himself to get more $$ in 2020

By far biggest reason why nobody wanted to trade for him is his bird rights that stop team that has him to sign him for anything more than $5,2M and 5% raise in next years. Basically team that has him by default offers the least .

I can't see it. I don't think they move from Simms and TRoss will trump here. I see no place for him to start. It's probably why they decided to cut the losses and set him free. I still think you keep any asset. Use in a trade in the draft or something. Just kthxbai is not a good look.

Weltman and Hammond flat out f***ed up with him. It's not really debate. Even if he is the worst player in nba for next season, for $5,2M you can buy out his contract after 40 games or so.
Bellineli got bought up and he is playing well and makes $6,6M just to boost Hawks tank.
Whole contract situation makes even less sense because Magic have no salary to being with to sign anybody in FA but his 4th year contract is expiring contract in 2019 where Magic unload lot of money.

So no matter how you look at it, it was stupid move. ( their second, after dropping late first round pick for basically nothing ). I not fan of Payton whatsoever but even that move was kind a pointles. What are you going to do with second round pick? Probably just draft somebody you won't use or trade for cash ?

[FFBlitzace]

Maybe someone has already made this observation, but it just now occurred to me and it kinda pisses me off even more about the Mario situation.

"This season is mainly about evaluating and seeing what we have."

*declines Mario's option before evaluating him at all*

[drsd]

4yrs/32 or 4yrs/36. Get it done WeHam!

This seems like a fair deal. Look what Lou Williams got with the Clippers. I understand that Mario is younger, but with Lou proving himself with better numbers than Mario, Mario should in theory get similar payday as Lou Williams.

Mario getting 4yr/36 would be sufficient, then sign A Gordon to a 4 yr 84 Mill extension, keep Vooch and trade Biyambo

The idea that bench wing players should be locked in to 7M a year deals is appalling to me. Hezonja getting anything like 30M over 4 years would be pretty shocking. Not saying it won't happen. I am saying it will turn out bad for the team that coughs up that kind of coin for him.


..

[DiplomaticMagic]

If we somehow are able to re-sign Hezonja and we get a top draft pick, all the sudden we have a nice collection of assets again.

[bigpimpatl]

No. He played like garbage the first two years. And now that he might be out of the league he starts playing better? Shocking coincidence. I’ll be shocked if he gets anything more than 5m a year.

[Tarheel]

No. He played like garbage the first two years. And now that he might be out of the league he starts playing better? Shocking coincidence. I’ll be shocked if he gets anything more than 5m a year.

I think it's more a case of actually having consistent opportunity and building confidence than him trying harder to get a contract.

I'd be shocked if we don't offer him the 1 year, 5 mil deal that we're permitted to.

[axl_c_cool]

No. He played like garbage the first two years. And now that he might be out of the league he starts playing better? Shocking coincidence. I’ll be shocked if he gets anything more than 5m a year.

I think it's more a case of actually having consistent opportunity and building confidence than him trying harder to get a contract.

I'd be shocked if we don't offer him the 1 year, 5 mil deal that we're permitted to.

I think he stays and takes that deal, I really do. He's here, comfortable, getting minutes, it's 1 year for us to show him and him to show us and earn a big contract

[Blue_and_Whte]

Here’s another way to look at it. Yeah NOW we all want to re sign him, but at the time a lot of people were cool with not picking up his option because he wasnt doing anything. I kinda don’t blame them.

What if not picking up his option lift a fire under his ass to get into gear? What if this was a calculated risk by WeHam to try and get him to understand that.
Knowing what we know now about the market, his best option may be to sign here. I think 1/5 million is fair for now because I don’t think teams are going to break the bank just because WE think he’s doing well. We always overvalue our own players

Just another way to approach the situation.


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[Optimus_Steel]

No. He played like garbage the first two years. And now that he might be out of the league he starts playing better? Shocking coincidence. I’ll be shocked if he gets anything more than 5m a year.

By all sorts of statistical metrics he was one of the worst players in the league last year and he looked like it in the eye test. He was mostly a statue out there. This preseason he looked just as bad as he did last season so that is what lead WeHam to their decision and I was totally fine with it when they did it. Did that snub lit a fire under him? IDK but it shouldn't have come to that for a former 5th pick. He has played better the last month and a half and if he plays himself into a worthy rotation player then good for him, he may actually end up making more money for himself. The thing that I feel though is that ok the team has had no choice but to play him because of the many injuries but once players get healthy & he gets competition again for PT is he going to disappear again? His NBA body of work suggest a weak mentality and a lack of finding out how to get himself involved.

[ladovina]

No. He played like garbage the first two years. And now that he might be out of the league he starts playing better? Shocking coincidence. I’ll be shocked if he gets anything more than 5m a year.

By all sorts of statistical metrics he was one of the worst players in the league last year and he looked like it in the eye test. He was mostly a statue out there. This preseason he looked just as bad as he did last season so that is what lead WeHam to their decision and I was totally fine with it when they did it. Did that snub lit a fire under him? IDK but it shouldn't have come to that for a former 5th pick. He has played better the last month and a half and if he plays himself into a worthy rotation player then good for him, he may actually end up making more money for himself. The thing that I feel though is that ok the team has had no choice but to play him because of the many injuries but once players get healthy & he gets competition again for PT is he going to disappear again? His NBA body of work suggest a weak mentality and a lack of finding out how to get himself involved.

Isnt his recent uprise sugesting exactly the opposite? Isnt he finding him self involved with decent efficiency right now a proof that something else is a problem when other get back? If he is a known liability with ball and a good driver according to Vogel, shouldnt he be the one receiving screens and pin-downs instead of sitting in the corner? He most certenly isnt the one who is camping 3 line in the corner couse he likes it... lol, if someone thinks that, than that person is more delusional then Mario... and he is delusional about his skill, since he like most NBA players see them selves much higher then their actual skill level.

[Def Swami]

These Hezonja games are soooo bittersweet.

[VFX]

Maybe someone has already made this observation, but it just now occurred to me and it kinda pisses me off even more about the Mario situation.

"This season is mainly about evaluating and seeing what we have."

*declines Mario's option before evaluating him at all*

Exactly.

Add the fact they threw away rookie contract deals and filled out the roster with vets on heavy playing time.

“Evaluation” of the current roster huh.

What a lame ass excuse. I bet their hands are still numb from sitting on them all season, without making any moves, until the players have as little trade value as possible.

[yoyojw17]

Maybe someone has already made this observation, but it just now occurred to me and it kinda pisses me off even more about the Mario situation.

"This season is mainly about evaluating and seeing what we have."

*declines Mario's option before evaluating him at all*

Exactly.

Add the fact they threw away rookie contract deals and filled out the roster with vets on heavy playing time.

“Evaluation” of the current roster huh.

What a lame ass excuse. I bet their hands are still numb from sitting on them all season, without making any moves, until the players have as little trade value as possible.

If i remember correctly.... someone wrote that apparently Hezonja and the Agent asked for the option not to be picked up... and Weham obliged. BUT with the same knowledge that he might return. If it was you that commented on this....please tag yourself in. lol

[Audi]

My growing fear is that the new front office is SO detached from like 90% of the roster, that they are either unwilling to see or are blind to what little (but important) talent and potential remains. With the Payton trade for a bag of chips and declining the option on Mario, it really does feel like they want to blow it all up and start from scratch with their own guys. Makes me actually wonder about the plans for AG, honestly.