Sacramento Kings NBA Trade and Roster Rumors: Kings Reportedly Interested in Magic Forward Mario Hezonja
Forward Mario Hezonja entered the National Basketball Association (NBA) with quite a bit of fanfare in 2015 because of his potential to become an all-around playmaker like former Orlando Magic forward Hedo Türkoğlu.
However, he has failed to develop into the player the team envisioned he would become when they took him fifth overall in the 2015 draft, and the Magic might have already decided that they have seen enough after two disappointing seasons.
According to Basketball Insiders' Michael Scotto, the Magic and the Sacramento Kings have discussed a potential trade involving Hezonja before the deadline to exercise his fourth-year $5.2-million team option, but talks stalled and a deal failed to materialize.
The Kings would have sent second-year guard Malachi Richardson and a second-round pick for Hezonja if the deal pushed through.
The trade seems fair, but the two sides just can't seem to agree on a trade before the end of October. Well, that doesn't necessarily mean that the Kings are no longer interested in Hezonja. In fact, the Croatian wing has been on their radar for some time now.
"Vlade Divac and Peja Stojakovic have kept tabs on Hezonja since the 2015 draft process. Sacramento nearly selected Hezonja, but Orlando selected him the pick before. Instead, Sacramento chose Willie Cauley-Stein with the sixth pick in that draft," Scotto said in his report.
Hezonja has played a bit role off the bench for the Magic in the last two seasons, but he has found it difficult to crack the rotation this year. His minutes have dropped drastically in the past five games, and the Magic will probably look to move him again at some point this season.
In seven games this season, Hezonja is only averaging 3.9 points and 2.0 rebounds while playing in a little under 12 minutes a game. He's also shooting 47.8 from the field and an impressive 55.6 percent from the three-point line.
