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Real Madrid have the power to try and shut down the Cleveland Cavaliers signing one of their players after missing out on LeBron James.
With James going to the Philadelphia 76ers, the Cavaliers have had to adjust their offseason approach and look for new players elsewhere.
In doing so, they seemingly closed a deal with Mario Hezonja, but his European club, Real Madrid, might have something to say about it.
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Real Madrid ‘pushing back’ on Cleveland Cavaliers over Mario Hezonja signing
NBA insider Marc Stein wrote on his Substack about the Cleveland Cavaliers’ pursuit of former NBA and current Real Madrid star Mario Hezonja.
Stein noted that the Cavaliers are working tirelessly to secure clearance from FIBA to sign Hezonja in free agency, but Real Madrid are hoping to get the Cavaliers to pay the $1 million release clause in the Croatian’s contract with them.
“One source close to the process told The Stein Line that Cleveland is working through’ the requisite steps to secure the needed FIBA Letter of Clearance from Real Madrid to officially sign Hezonja as a free agent.
“The Spanish giants are said to have pushed back on setting Hezonja free because he didn’t have his next team lined up until July 26.
“Hezonja’s Real Madrid contract featured an NBA out clause — requiring a $1 million payment to the club — that had to be formally exercised by July 20.”
Cleveland Cavaliers limited in their free agency options
With LeBron James no longer available, and Mario Hezonja proving to be an expensive acquisition, the Cleveland Cavaliers might consider turning to the open market and signing some players on a discount.
Unfortunately, the Cavaliers are in the dreaded second apron, which means that onboarding any new players is going to be a complicated task.
The Cavs cannot aggregate salary in trades because of this rule, meaning that they must take back the exact same amount they sent out in salary cap hits to another team.
It will take a lot of clever work from Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman, especially considering that he won’t have Mike Gansy to rely on.
Read more:
- Josh Hart bluntly reminds Donovan Mitchell’s MLB team to ‘make a move’
- LeBron James snubbed Cavs because they kept Donovan Mitchell over Jaylen Brown or Darius Garland
- Cleveland Cavaliers set to make first signing since missing out on LeBron James
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