:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49940247/usa-today-9039683.0.jpg)
The Charlotte Hornets have traded the 22nd pick in the 2016 NBA Draft to the Sacramento Kings for Marco Belinelli, according to the Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski. The trade can't officially be completed until July 1, the first day of free agency, but both sides have agreed to the deal.
Sacramento is trading guard Marco Belinelli to Charlotte for the No. 22 pick, league sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) June 23, 2016
Charlotte-Sacramento deal can't go through until after July 1, but Hornets will be selecting player at No. 22 for Kings, sources said.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) June 23, 2016
Where do we start with this?
It's no secret the Hornets weren't happy with their pick. Few prospects came down to Charlotte for workouts, and the team is desperate to preserve cap space to re-sign its many, many free agents. So that's how we got here. But Belinelli?
General manager Rich Cho targeted Belinelli last year but was unable to acquire him. The sharpshooting wing had a fairly disappointing season in Sacramento. He shot an uncharacteristic 38.6 percent from the field and 30.1 percent from behind the arc, both career lows. Let's hope those percentages came courtesy of the Kings' dysfunction and not Marco's ability.
One of the following players will not be in Charlotte next year: Courtney Lee, Jeremy Lamb, or Belinelli. It remains to be seen which player is on their way out, though.