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Free agent Hezonja signs two-year pact with Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed forward Mario Hezonja, according to the team, which made the official announcement in a press release.

The agreement is two-year, minimum-salary pact, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the second year being a player option.

“Mario is a prodigiously talented player with a high ceiling and a bright future,” Trail Blazers president of basketball operations Neil Olshey said in a statement. “He will have a chance to contribute immediately while we work to accelerate his development.”

The 6-foot-8, 225-pound Hezonja averaged 8.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 steals in 20.8 minutes in 58 games (24 starts) for the New York Knicks last season, shooting 41.2 percent from the field, 27.6 percent from beyond the 3-point arc and 76.3 percent from the free-throw line.

He had one of the best highlights of last season with this dunk, staredown and stepover on Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden:

Then, he did this to Marquese Chriss of the Cleveland Cavaliers are Quicken Loans Arena:

Hezonja, 24, carries career averages of 7.3 points, 3.0 boards and 1.3 assists in 18.9 minutes in 277 games (65 starts), along with a shooting line of 41.7/32.1/81.1.

He was the 15th overall pick in the 2015 draft by the Orlando Magic, with whom he played the first three seasons of his NBA career before signing a one-year, $6.5 million pact with the Knicks before last season.