Per USA Today’s Michael Scotto, Portland Trail Blazers guard Mario Hezonja made the smart business move of exercising his player-option. What should we expect from him in 2020-21?
The Portland Trail Blazers are expected to be an intriguing option when the NBA’s free agency period begins on Nov. 20. In the meantime, they’ve officially made their first transaction of the 2020-21 offseason, with reserve guard Mario Hezonja exercising the second year of his player-option.
According to HoopsHype and USA Today Sports writer Michael Scotto, Hezonja opted into a contract that will pay him $1.98 million for the season.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Mario Hezonja will exercise his $1.98 million player option for the 2021-22 season, league sources told @hoopshype.
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) November 16, 2020
The move itself is sure to become a lightning rod for criticism, particularly by Trail Blazers observers. In his first season in Portland, the talented Croatian struggled to find a consistent groove, averaging a career-low 4.8 points and 3.5 rebounds on 42.2 percent from the field, and produced a -10.5 on-off swing.
Speaking business, though, it was a smart move for Hezonja. After generating his “big” payday in New York — a one-year, $6.5 million deal through the mid-level exception — the market wasn’t as deep after that year. The $1.98 million may have been the best Hezonja would have gotten, and he should benefit from continuity.
Should Blazers fans be seeking some form of confidence in Hezonja’s resurgence, perhaps they can find solace in his production right before the Orlando bubble. In the last 12 games from Feb. 4 to Mar. 10, Hezonja averaged 6.0 points and 2.5 rebounds on 58-47-75 percentage splits. It’s a straw-grasp, but it is on-film proof.
One quote always resonates, when it comes to finding optimism about Hezonja returning to form. During an NBC Northwest piece from Dwight Jaynes, Hezonja was able to pinpoint what made it easier for him to find his groove later in the year:
"“I was more comfortable with the role I was playing. I knew what I could expect stepping on the court. It was much easier to be efficient.I got very comfortable with the organization, my teammates and with Terry and the coaching staff, so it was easier. It was the best basketball I played.”"
As a positive, it wasn’t as if this move was much of a surprise. Hezonja, like fellow teammate Rodney Hood, were already expected to opt into their deals by the national media.
Hezonja could have a bit of a struggle for playing time during the 2020-21 campaign, with the returning Hood, Trevor Ariza, Carmelo Anthony, and Nassir Little, among others, as well as whomever the Portland Trail Blazers bring on over the next few weeks.
Regardless, he finds himself in another contract year, as an unrestricted free agent after 2020-21. Perhaps he turns that pressure into a positive bounce-back season.