Every now and then you hear an NBA name that takes you back to the dark days of the Detroit Pistons, which is what happened recently when the long-lost Mario Hezonja signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
If that name sounds familiar, it’s because he was attached to the Pistons in speculation around the 2015 draft, when the Pistons were looking for a strong wing player, something they hadn’t had since the Tayshaun Prince days.
If Hezonja hadn’t been chosen 5th by the Knicks, the Pistons might have snagged him with the 5th pick, as it was widely reported that he was a favorite of Stan Van Gundy.
Hezonja didn’t last long and got bounced from the NBA to the Euroleague after five underwhelming seasons that ended with him being declared one of the big busts of the 2015 Draft.
The Pistons took Stanley Johnson instead, a guy who landed on my All-Time Pistons draft bust starting five, so in the end, it didn’t much matter for the Pistons.
The Pistons dodged one bullet but caught another
Hezonja will be trying to re-vitalize his career after eight seasons with Real Madrid in the EuroLeague and Liga ACB.
Hezonja had the kind of career with Real Madrid that people expected from him in the NBA, as last season he averaged 17.5 points per game on 47/37/90 shooting splits. He’ll get a chance with the Cavaliers to show he can put up those kinds of numbers in the best league in the world.
Stanley Johnson was a bust for the Pistons, but he did last longer than Hezonja, though the latter could end up surpassing him in NBA service if he plays a few more years in the NBA.
Hezonja is still only 31 years old even though it seems like he was in the draft 100 years ago, so if he can stick with the Cavs, he’ll have a chance to re-write his NBA narrative.
It doesn’t appear Stanley Johnson will be getting that opportunity even though he’s a year younger and actually had a better NBA career. It makes you wonder if Johnson would have been better off going to play in Europe instead of wasting his time trying to make the league via the G-League.
Ironically, the Pistons are still looking for a wing in the mold of Hezonja all of these years later, as they still don’t have a wing who can shoot, though we are hoping to see big leaps from Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland II in that department next season.
Hezonja brings a blast from the past that offers some painful draft reminders for Pistons fans but also points a glaring spotlight on a need they’ve had for over a decade.
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