The New Orleans Pelicans have done very little this offseason, plain and simple. Other than bringing in a new head coach in Jamahl Mosley, Joe Dumars and his staff have made no changes to alter the culture or style in which the Pelicans play in 2026-27. With that, it’s easy to fall into a place where you are begging for any type of move just so the team has a new, fresh flavor or look to them next season. That's where a name like Mario Hezonja starts to circulate as a potential target.
NBA insider Marc Stein recently reported that the former 2015 fifth overall pick and Real Madrid forward is attempting to make a return to the NBA after six seasons overseas. Stein mentioned that several teams are interested, and for Pelicans fans, the idea of landing a former lottery pick who has really come into his own overseas may be very intriguing.
But that’s where the idea of signing Hezonja should stop: as a point of intrigue. With one open roster spot, the Pelicans have much bigger problems than focusing in on another forward, with a similar skill set to players they already employ.
The fit isn’t there for Hezonja in New Orleans
It would be an incredible story to see Hezonja return to the NBA after being a failed lottery pick that was labeled a bust by many. It would be especially special to see that return come with a small market team like New Orleans. However, the front office needs to fight that urge because while Hezonja is a far more mature, complete player than he was back in 2019-20(his last NBA season), his style of play would make finding a role with the Pelicans tricky.
Over his years outside of the NBA, we’ve seen Hezonja grow into a high-level two-way downhill scorer. This past season, Hezonja averaged 15.0 points per game to go along with 4.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 0.8 steals per game.
At 6-foot-8, 220 pounds, he has the size and strength to be a pesky defender from the point of attack, while still being a positive interior defender. He closes possessions strong with defensive rebounds and can be trusted to handle the rock a little and create in the pick-and-roll. But he isn’t quite a good enough three-point shooter to justify signing another player who would be eating into Herb Jones, Saddiq Bey, Trey Murphy III and Zion Williamson’s minutes.
While Hezonja has had some ups as a shooter over the season, shooting 39-plus percent from three in 2022-23 and 2023-24, the other four seasons overseas he shot 34.6, 30.0, 34.5 and 33.4 percent. That wouldn’t cut it for a Pelicans team that was in the bottom ten in all major three-point statistics last season and doesn’t have a reliable high-volume floor spacer outside of Murphy III.
New Orleans' focus with their final standard roster spot should be on two things: center play or three-point shooting. Unfortunately, Hezonja fits neither of those, and for that reason can likely scratch the Pelicans from his list of potential destinations as he mounts a return to the NBA after a long overseas run.
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