Bust laid plans
Knicks roll dice on 2015 No. 5 pick Hezonja
LAS VEGAS — During his three seasons in Orlando, Mario Hezonja built a reputation for playing poorly, if he was playing at all, and carrying a cocksure attitude that didn't go over well given the lack of production.
When the Magic renounced Hezonja's rights in October — a rare move for a fifth overall pick still on his rookie contract — the bust label was applied with vigor. But then he changed some minds toward the end of last season when given more minutes, and now the Knicks believe their big free agent signing is ready for a breakout.
“It's so easy to write a kid off after a couple years. But any one of you and me when we were 18 to 21 were jerks. Let's be real about that,” David Fizdale said. “So a lot of times we discard these players and this kid still has a lot of things as you showed at the end of the year. Although he had struggled, it finally started to pick up.”
Hezonja's signing for one-year, $8.6 million was made official Friday so Fizdale was finally allowed to talk about his new lump of clay. The Knicks now own three of the topseven picks in the 2015 draft — Porzingis (4th), Hezonja (5th) and Emmanuel Mudiay (7th) — plus the ninth pick in 2013 (Trey Burke). Hezonja is the greatest unknown on that list simply because he hasn't played much.
The 23-year-old was largely on the bench while playing overseas at Barcelona before the NBA. In Orlando, he averaged 18.4 minutes and just 6.2 shots over three seasons. Fizdale suggested Hezonja's growth was stunted by playing for different coaches in Orlando, Scott Skiles and Frank Vogel.
In New York, there's a starting spot open for Hezonja at either forward positions.
“I think he's a talent, a high draft-pick talent,” Fizdale said. “He fits how I want to play. His athleticism and ability to shoot and make plays off the dribble. And I really feel like he's definitely worth bringing him in and seeing what we can turn him into.”
The catch with Hezonja is that if he does play well the Knicks may not be able to bring him back next year in free agency. The team treasures its 2019 cap space and hopes to entice a superstar to take the money, whether it's Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, Jimmy Butler, Kemba Walker or Klay Thompson.
Either way, the Knicks should know what they're getting into. GM Scott Perry was part of the front office that drafted Hezonja in Orlando, and Fizdale said he scouted the forward on film while an assistant coach with the Heat (Miami picked 10th in that draft and needed intel on Hezonja in case he dropped)
“I told him, ‘I want to give you a clean slate,' ” Fizdale said. “No judgment. I'm not going to look back at your past for any negatives. I want to start from scratch and develop you and play you.'
“And that's all he was asking for was a fresh start and being a place where he was valued and people cared about him. I think it's going to be a good relationship.”
Kyle O'Quinn was looking for a big contract and claimed he wanted to return to New York. In the end, he got neither.
The Queens native secured a oneyear, $4.5 million deal with the Pacers, a source confirmed, wrapping up a three-year stint with the Knicks as a backup center. It's a slight raise from the $4.25 million player option he declined with New York, but far from what he envisioned for himself last season. The Knicks were interested in bringing O'Quinn before free agency but used most of their money on Mario Hezonja and already have a full roster.
As currently constructed, the Knicks' backup center behind Enes Kanter is Luke Kornet, who went undrafted last year and has totaled just 20 NBA games.