Mario Hezonja's NBA hopes stall as buyout deadline passes, Real Madrid keeps him

Croatian forward Mario Hezonja missed the €850,000 buy‑out deadline that would have freed him from his contract with Real Madrid, keeping him under contract through 2029. He has repeatedly stated his desire to return to the NBA, but the missed payment means he remains a Real Madrid player.

Hezonja has turned down offers from three EuroLeague clubs, emphasizing that the NBA is his priority. The NBA itself has warned against signing him merely to waive him later and send him back to Europe, saying such a maneuver would damage the league’s credibility and could trigger investigations. Despite this, the Cleveland Cavaliers are reported to be among the NBA teams monitoring his situation, though their interest may be linked to the ongoing free‑agent decisions involving LeBron James.

The ongoing saga involves clubs in Spain, Greece and Croatia, and the NBA’s stance adds a regulatory dimension to the transfer market for the 31‑year‑old player.