Free Agent Update: Cavaliers Await Hezonja Clearance, Nuggets’ Watson Offer Stalls, Lakers Hunt for Another Center
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Cleveland, OH — The Cavaliers are waiting on a FIBA letter of clearance from Real Madrid before they can finalize a reported minimum-salary agreement with forward Mario Hezonja, according to Marc Stein. The document is mandatory for EuroLeague players moving to the NBA, and Real Madrid is disputing whether the 29-year-old satisfied the terms of his NBA exit clause by the July 20 deadline.
Hezonja’s pact with Cleveland was reached on July 26, six days after the stipulated cutoff, and the $1 million buyout required by the clause was reportedly not paid by last Monday. Spanish outlet Marca reported that Real Madrid is open to granting clearance if it can retain Hezonja’s EuroLeague rights, safeguarding the club against the possibility that he could sign in the NBA, be waived, and then join a rival team in Europe.
Nuggets’ Offer to Peyton Watson Remains Below His Asking Price
Conflicting reports continue on Denver’s proposal to restricted free agent wing Peyton Watson. The Athletic cited a five-year, $70 million offer, while Stein reiterates the Nuggets have remained in the $16-18 million per-year range — roughly four years and $70 million in total. Either scenario is well below the salary Watson is seeking; the 23-year-old reportedly wants a higher annual figure than the $25 million per year teammate Christian Braun secured last summer.
Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com said on his “Wine and Gold Talk” podcast that the Cavaliers have expressed interest in Watson. Any sign-and-trade would be complicated, however, because both Denver and Cleveland are dealing with salary-apron constraints.
Lakers Still Shopping for Frontcourt Depth
After acquiring Walker Kessler via sign-and-trade and signing Kevon Looney earlier this month, the Lakers are still searching for another center, league sources told Dan Woike of The Athletic. Kessler and Looney combined to appear in just 26 games last season, and Los Angeles already has 16 players on guaranteed standard contracts. Woike outlined potential low-cost trade options and noted that a handful of free-agent big men remain available.
The market activity continues as teams navigate cap restrictions and roster limits ahead of training camps.
Source: Hoops Rumors
