The Brooklyn Nets have expressed interest in an athletic wing player, and are reportedly eyeing Mario Hezonja to fill that need.
Hezonja was taken with the 5th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft but hasn’t performed up to his expectations. His struggles on the defensive end of the floor as players have no problem getting by the Croatian off the dribble.
He is known for his shooting abilities but has failed to show much of anything in his short time in the league. Already deemed a bust by some, Hezonja has fallen short of the double-digit points per game mark in each of his three seasons in the league, accompanied by an ugly 33% from behind the arc for his career.
Despite his ineffectiveness with the Magic, the Nets aren’t ready to give up on Hezonja just yet as he is only 23 years old.
What makes Hezonja an attractive free agent option is his frame. At 6’8″ 220, his height gives him an advantage over most shooting guards in the league. It also allows him to be more versatile as a player, capable of playing multiple positions on the floor.
This wouldn’t be the first time Brooklyn has looked to trade for former top-ten picks that didn’t exactly pan out. The Nets are somewhat notorious for acquiring promising talent that has struggled early on, including D’Angelo Russell (#2 in 2015), Jahlil Okafor (#3 in 2015), and Nik Stauskas (#8 in 2014).
All of these players could not live up to the hype but will look to revitalize their career with a team that has struggled to contend for a long time.
Could Hezonja be the next player to follow the lead of those before him?
