Super Mario or Storm Clouds?
Aside from Aaron Gordon, Orlando fans will have their eyes glued to the saga of Mario Hezonja.
The Magic surprised many by declining his rookie option at the start of the season, allowing him to enter unrestricted agency this summer. Perhaps the biggest bust of the Rob Hennigan rebuild, Mario Hezonja came into the league as someone supposedly capable of winning both the dunk contest and the 3-point shootout.
Unfortunately, neither set of skills were visible in his first two seasons.
Written off by many, Hezonja entered his third year on the fringes and potentially fighting for his NBA future, but with the support of a small but dedicated fanbase.
Yet as Orlando’s season was brought down by injuries and catastrophic play, Hezonja was given a huge opportunity. He took advantage of it, boasting respectable averages this year of 9.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals
But has Hezonja done enough to earn a return to the Magic Kingdom? Or did he slip on a banana peel?
Hezonja has earned the Magic’s attention, performing well in difficult circumstances and showing flashes of the potential that saw him drafted fifth back in 2015. Things could become difficult if figures exceeding $5 million start to emerge.
He is undoubtedly talented, but his flaws — particularly on defense — are a huge drawback.