CAA Sports has signed Orlando Magic guard/forward
Mario Hezonja, the No. 5 overall pick of the 2015 draft.
He was formerly represented by Wasserman.
At CAA Basketball, he will be represented by a team of agents led by Michael Tellem, who joined CAA Sports from Wasserman last year.
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Mario Hezonja will be represented by a team of CAA agents.
Photo by: NBAE / GETTY IMAGES
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Michael Tellem is the son of former agent
Arn Tellem, who left Wasserman last year to become vice chairman of
Palace Sports & Entertainment, owner of the Detroit Pistons.
Hezonja was a member of the Croatian national basketball team that competed in this year’s Olympics in Rio.
> WME SIGNS JOHNSON, NEGANDHI: WME has signed broadcasters Keyshawn Johnson and Kevin Negandhi for representation in all areas.
WME television and broadcasting agent Jim Ornstein will lead the team at WME-IMG representing both Johnson and Negandhi.
CAA formerly represented Negandhi. NFL agent Jerome Stanley formerly represented Johnson.
WME negotiated Johnson’s recently announced multiyear deal with ESPN, in which he will be based out of Los Angeles.
The former NFL wide receiver was born and lives in Los Angeles and was drafted out of USC with the No. 1 overall pick in 1996. He will also host a radio show on KSPN-AM, the ESPN Radio affiliate in Los Angeles, as part of his new deal.
Negandhi has spent more than a decade at ESPN, where he is a “SportsCenter” anchor. His contract is up for renegotiation in four months.
On the marketing and endorsement side, IMG agent Carlos Fleming will represent Johnson and IMG agent Ira Stahlberger will represent Negandhi.
> MAXX SIGNS GOMEZ: Maxx Sports & Entertainment has signed recently retired NHL center Scott Gomez and negotiated a deal for him to be an NHL analyst.
Maxx President Mark Lepselter is representing Gomez, who announced he is retiring from the NHL earlier this month. He was previously unrepresented for broadcast work.
“We have an agreement in place with a network,” Lepselter said. “I can’t say which network, but they will be announcing something soon.”
Gomez was the No. 27 overall pick in 1998 and won the Stanley Cup twice with the New Jersey Devils.
“He’s a fun guy,” Lepselter said. “He’s a real hockey guy.”
> HOSSLER SIGNS DEAL: Konica Minolta Business Solutions has signed a multiyear partnership with golfer Beau Hossler, who recently turned professional. Financial terms were not disclosed. As part of the agreement, Hossler will wear the Konica Minolta logo on his sleeve and participate in customer entertainment at events around the country.
Hambric Sports Management President David Winkle represents Hossler and negotiated the deal. Winkle said it is unusual for a golfer who has recently turned pro to sign a nonendemic deal.
Hossler first made national news in 2012 when he was just 17, when he briefly led the U.S. Open in the second round before finishing tied for 29th.
Hossler has also signed a deal with TaylorMade-Adidas Golf.
Hossler, who is right handed, tore the labrum in his left shoulder while competing in the NCAA championship in May. He underwent successful surgery in June, performed by sports surgeon Dr. Dan Cooper, who works with the Dallas Cowboys.
“He is ahead of schedule,” Winkle said. “He is already hitting balls and cleared to make full swings.”
Hossler is scheduled to make his professional debut at the PGA Tour’s Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, Calif., in January.
Liz Mullen can be reached at lmullen@sportsbusinessjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @SBJLizMullen.
