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.

According to a report in Spanish national sports daily Marca, Real Madrid has proposed retaining Hezonja’s EuroLeague rights in exchange for letting him go to the NBA, thus ensuring that it would be able to re-sign Hezonja in the event that the 31-year-old leaves the NBA for a second time.

https://open.substack.com/pub/marcstein/p/we-repeat-more-late-night-nba-intel?r=1m9zg&utm_medium=ios&shareImageVariant=app

havingagoodtime | Bulls

249 | 16 hours ago

This seems like a lot of trouble for Mario Hezonja

gorgfan | Mavericks

59 | 14 hours ago

it’s a lot of paperwork for doing Mario Hezonjas powerful agents a favor.

N0rTh3Fi5t

35 | 14 hours ago

He scores 3 points a game.

WalterDwight | TOR

39 | 14 hours ago

Could be the winning 3

Organic_Initiative93

12 | 13 hours ago

Every game? I feel like we’re underselling this

WebStAR7121

17 | 10 hours ago

We’ll take the horse!

yeontura | Philippines

4 | 9 hours ago

He’s gonna be the glue guy

Dgwdum

1 | 6 hours ago

Hes averaging 17 lol

GOFC_55 | Cavaliers

1 | 3 hours ago

So same amount that Dean Wade would’ve given us. Cool

TiredMillennialDad | Magic

10 | 12 hours ago

He comes with a horse

links135

4 | 14 hours ago

Clearly you didn’t see their small forward rotation last year

PlatinumState | Warriors

4 | 12 hours ago

I wondered since the beginning of this saga “what exactly is the allure of Hezonja now?” Cavs cant live without his 5 points a night?

HoBaggyPants

1 | 12 hours ago

The decision makers just need to tell their underlings to handle it.

Talentagentfriend

1 | 5 hours ago

He was in the running for MVP of Euroleague

PianoJealous307

164 | 15 hours ago

“According to a report in Spanish national sports daily Marca, Real Madrid has proposed retaining Hezonja’s EuroLeague rights in exchange for letting him go to the NBA, thus ensuring that it would be able to re-sign Hezonja in the event that the 31-year-old leaves the NBA for a second time.”

Oh they absolutely found out about what he was trying to do

JMEEKER86 | Japan

50 | 14 hours ago

Hard not to when it was so blatantly obvious.

Apprehensive-Crab589

11 | 10 hours ago

Out of the loop. What was he trying to do?

TruWarierRecords | CHI

61 | 10 hours ago

Get signed to the NBA and waived so he can leave Real Madrid for a different Euroleague team.

Most teams have clauses where the player can only be bought out by an NBA team. Not another league

Cavs don’t really want Hezonja as he’s not NBA quality, nor young.

They’re just doing his agent a favour

ProduceVisible8105

7 | 3 hours ago

They’ve scouted him for years lol quit giving life to rumors 😂 there’s a reason it’s been deleted and never reported by a single legitimate outlet

Incragable-Crunk

2 | 3 hours ago

It’s not being widely reported because the agent doesn’t want it reported for obvious reasons. If it wasn’t true the deal would likely be finalized already.

ProduceVisible8105

0 | 3 hours ago

The actual situation is being reported on which is what we’re commenting on right now 😂

Everyday_ImSchefflen | Cavaliers

1 | 21 minutes ago

There’s one incredibly non-reputable source saying this.

I’m not saying it ISNT true but acting like we know it’s a fact is extremely foolish

BigOlPass

67 | 16 hours ago

Europe is too confusing. Just put ice in your water and let Mario hoop in the greatest city in the world

dae5oty

69 | 16 hours ago

Agreed. Welcome to Gary, Indiana Mr. Hezonja

jefe_hook

10 | 16 hours ago

That’s not how you spell Shanghai

OpeDefinitely | Pacers

3 | 15 hours ago

Hypothetically, if I were a basketball player on a hypothetical pro team in Gary, I’d live in Beverly Shores and thrive.

nomitycs | Warriors

1 | 13 hours ago

Sorry I only speak socialised healthcare, can you translate

Organic_Initiative93

1 | 13 hours ago

Didnt realize he was getting signed by the Bears

Krillin113 | 76ers

5 | 9 hours ago

Dubai? Because that’s where he wants to go hoop

hashtag_AD |

1 | 2 hours ago

Let Em Know

beefJeRKy-LB | Lebanon

-6 | 10 hours ago

Ice in water is my least favorite thing about restaurants here lol. I have to remember to ask them to give me water without it.

Forsaken-Income-3632

48 | 16 hours ago

This LeBron fault

thy_armageddon | Knicks

46 | 16 hours ago

Player laundering is crazy.

theytracemikey | Cavaliers

23 | 16 hours ago

What are we doing man

CabbageStockExchange | Lakers

20 | 16 hours ago

Dictator Mbappé demands his tribute

Vertibrate

8 | 15 hours ago

Gotta sell to make some money to bring in Rodri.

jvaz521 | ATL

4 | 16 hours ago

SET MY MARIO FREE!

SaulBerenson12 | SAS

1 | 16 hours ago

Mario is a free basketball player!

Knicksin7bby | Knicks

7 | 16 hours ago

lebron stopper

GyattLuvr69

-3 | 15 hours ago

Lebanon copper

PMmeYourBobsPlz

6 | 16 hours ago

Lol

SandwitchJ | Celtics

4 | 15 hours ago

This part of the off-season is excruciating if this is news

Crookz_O | Mavericks

1 | 16 hours ago

Free Mario, and then Vini!

TakeItToTheRiver | Grizzlies

1 | 16 hours ago

All this for a guy that never averaged 10ppg in the NBA.

MemphisFactChecker

1 | 7 hours ago

Mario Hezonja being like the second most talked about free agent of the summer is one of the weirder things I’ve seen as an NBA fan.

heat_fan_ | Raptors

0 | 16 hours ago

All Lebron fault

[Stein] Cleveland is “working through” the steps to secure the FIBA Letter of Clearance from Real Madrid to officially sign Mario Hezonja. The Spanish giants are said to have pushed back on setting Hezonja free. His contract included a $1 million out clause that had to be exercised by July 20.