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Draftexpress Strength Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WngADYTj-U
Draftexpress Weakness Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6QTlFFaiL0
Draftexpress Profile: http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Mario-Hezonja-6392/

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d4vqiqSMOY[/youtube]

Definitely want this dude

Yes please

He's the guy I'm the most interested in but I doubt he will be there when we pick.

Need to trade up for him. Get it done MJ and Cho.

We really need this crazy Croatian cat.

Yeah I think he would really work out good for the Hornets.

Yeah I think he would really work out good for the Hornets.

I had already seen discussion on here noting that Hezonja wouldn't be participating in the combine, but this draftexpress article speculates that he maybe won't be done with his overseas commitments until it would be too late to work out for any teams, be interviewed, or even submit for a physical.

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/201%20...%20ysis-4952/

Seems to me that increases our chances of him falling to us.

Can teams not fly over to where he is at least for interviews?

based on what little I know... this is the guy I want. However, I refuse to get excited about him since its unlikely he will be around when we pick.

Best highlights mix so far...all in the Euroleague against the best competition he has faced.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xCA5fThfQQ[/youtube]

I know everyone is most excited for him because of his aggression and his athleticism, but his release is super quick and he has very good jump shot mechanics. Assuming we don't get a top five pick, he has to be the guy we target. If he was coming out of college, he'd be a top three pick.

Was not expecting that many alleyoops. Too bad Kemba is one of the worst in the league at throwing them. The video makes me want him even more. Don't see us trading up to do so though. We'd have to trade away someone like Zeller if we did.

I know I am in the minority (in a big, big, way) but I do not want this guy.

BigSlam wrote:I know I am in the minority (in a big, big, way) but I do not want this guy.

Any particular reason why? We know very little about him so I think most of us are going off the few paragraphs we're read and highlights. Not exactly strong evidence.

James Gatz wrote:

BigSlam wrote:I know I am in the minority (in a big, big, way) but I do not want this guy.

Any particular reason why? We know very little about him so I think most of us are going off the few paragraphs we're read and highlights. Not exactly strong evidence.

I'm not 100% sure to be honest - which is in no way fair to Hezonja or his supporters.

I think it's part because he is a Euro, and that scares me a little (fairly or unfairly) and due to what I perceive as his biggest weakness - which is not knowing his own limitations and trying to play well above himself, which gets himself and his team into trouble. His reported suspect attitude with things like poor body language is a concern of mine as well.

I guess I just don't think he is as good or as well rounded as others do?

BigSlam wrote:

James Gatz wrote:

BigSlam wrote:I know I am in the minority (in a big, big, way) but I do not want this guy.

Any particular reason why? We know very little about him so I think most of us are going off the few paragraphs we're read and highlights. Not exactly strong evidence.

I'm not 100% sure to be honest - which is in no way fair to Hezonja or his supporters.

I think it's part because he is a Euro, and that scares me a little (fairly or unfairly) and due to what I perceive as his biggest weakness - which is not knowing his own limitations and trying to play well above himself, which gets himself and his team into trouble. His reported suspect attitude with things like poor body language is a concern of mine as well.

I guess I just don't think he is as good or as well rounded as others do?

I've heard from a lot of people that he actually doesn't have a horrible attitude, he just wears his emotions on his sleeve, and sometimes it comes across negatively. But for every bad play when he looks down on himself or his teammates, there are as many when he's the biggest hype machine on the floor or on the bench.

As far as him being a Euro, I actually agree. Euros typically scare me. But he's a very atypical Euro player. Most NBA-bound Euros get here almost entirely based off size and skill. Not very many Euros are actually able to combine those two things with elite level athleticism. It's been a pretty long time since a Euro player with Hezonja's athleticism has crossed the pond, and it's even more exciting because it's not just pure athleticism he's relying on in Europe right now. He's using it, but he's also very skilled. He can put the ball down on the floor, he's a smart player on both ends, his jump shot mechanics are beautiful, he has good court vision, and basically he does everything you'd expect from a typical Euro player, just with more pep in his step.

The whole "unknown" factor scares me too, but this is one of the few Euros I'd really like to take a chance on.

This kid is not going to land anywhere near 9...I don't even want to scout him because he is clearly a player we need and ain't going to get.

Mario screams 'small sample size' to me. I honestly think that some folks are seeing what they want to see with him. I don't hate him, but I do feel like there is a significant possibility that he will fail to work out in the NAA

Vanderbilt_Grad wrote:Mario screams 'small sample size' to me. I honestly think that some folks are seeing what they want to see with him. I don't hate him, but I do feel like there is a significant possibility that he will fail to work out in the NAA

He's been on the nba radar since he was 16. Believe me, sample size of his play is much bigger than some of the ncaa freshmen in this draft.

This is a snippet from interview with Jahlil Okafor from three years ago when he was playing for USA under 17 team at fiba world championship.

Is there a player in the event not on USA's team that has given you trouble?

“No, not yet. There’s supposedly a really talented wing on Croatia who's supposed to be a lottery pick in 2014 and Kentucky [supposedly is] recruiting him hard. We've seen him play and we were all very impressed.



Note: The Croatian player Okafor is talking about is a 6-6 wing Mario Hezonja. He hung 30 points on Spain and Croatia won its pool and is 5-0. Jonathan Givony of Draft Express said Hezonja’s a freak athlete and is worth the hype.

http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/dave-te ... edal-round