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Hezonja Finalizes Release Agreement With FC Barcelona

Dan Savage
Director of Digital News

By John Denton
June 29, 2015

ORLANDO – Free from his contract in the Spanish League, Mario Hezongja is poised now to join the Orlando Magic and fulfill his dreams of playing in the NBA.

Hezonja, the fifth overall pick in last Thursday’s NBA Draft by the Magic, reached a contract buyout with Spanish powerhouse FC Barcelona on Monday, paving his way to sign with the Magic. Henonja, a 6-foot-8, 218-pound small forward originally from Croatia, is expected to arrive in Orlando in the coming days and his debut with the Magic will likely come in the Southwest Airlines Orlando Pro Summer League.

Magic GM Rob Hennigan, who has scouted Hezonja extensively over the past three seasons, said on draft night that he didn’t anticipate there being any troubles in the 20-year-old being able to get out of his Spanish League contract. Hezonja’s agent, Arn Tellem, spent the past three days negotiating with FC Barcelona and those discussions were finalized on Monday, freeing the sweet-shooting Hezonja to join the Magic.

``The release agreement between Mario Hezonja and FC Barcelona has been finalized and we look forward to Mario’s arrival in Orlando in the coming days,’’ Magic GM Rob Hennigan said on Monday in a release. ``We would like to thank Mario, Arn Tellem and FC Barcelona for their cooperation and diligence.’’

Because Hezonja has already appeared in 53 games this year in the Spanish League and EuroLeague, he is only expected to play a couple of games in the Summer League, Hennigan said. He will be joined on the Summer League roster by Elfrid Payton, Aaron Gordon and Devyn Marble – the Magic’s haul from the 2014 NBA Draft – and 2015 second-round pick Tyler Harvey.

Known for his confidence as much as his shooting stroke, Hezonja said last week that he can’t wait to join the Magic and show everyone that he can thrive on basketball’s biggest stage in the NBA.

``I’m trying to do my best on everything that I can do and do it at the highest level,’’ Hezonja said. ``For me, I hope to get all of the details of my game up to the highest level. Playing with that confidence, that’s just me. That pushes me every day to go even harder and it prepares me for the great things ahead. (The swagger) is basically just me and who I am.’’

Picking fifth in last week’s draft, Orlando held out hope that Hezonja would be available to them because of their need of shooting and versatility on the wings. Because of his rare combination of size, athleticism and shooting ability, the Magic were more than happy to nab Hezonja in the draft and add him to their roster despite already have a glut of small forwards.

Orlando small forward Tobias Harris will become a restricted free agent on July 1, and GM Rob Hennigan has said the team hopes to retain him. Evan Fournier, Aaron Gordon, Maurice Harkless and Devyn Marble also play primarily at the small forward position.

Hezonja’s playing time was limited this past season with FC Barcelona – most likely as a way to prevent him from jumping to the NBA – and he averaged just 4.7 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 14.7 minutes over games.

But when he did see extended playing time, his dead-eye shooting and off-the charts athleticism were apparent. On Dec. 14 against Zaragoza, he made six of 10 shots and two 3-pointers for 14 points. He had 16 points, five rebounds and four 3-pointers in February against Jovenut and 18 points, five rebounds and the five 3-pointers in the recent playoff game against Real Madrid. The best outing of his career – on Feb. 1 against Manresa – proved to be historic as he hit all eight of his 3-point shots, pumped in 24 points and handed out six assists.

``The guy plays with a real swagger,’’ new Magic coach Scott Skiles said. ``We have a bunch of really good guys who are still trying to find themselves in the NBA. But Mario has been playing professionally and he has a high, high level of confidence.’’