The Golden State Warriors could consider bringing back Marco Belinelli, but it’s unlikely they’re able to convince the Atlanta Hawks to pull the trigger.
With the Golden State Warriors needing another second unit shooter to help bolster the team’s floor spacing off the bench, 6-foot-5 shooting guard Marco Belinelli is a name that the Dubs could possibly target ahead of the NBA trade deadline.
This idea is inspired by Tim Kawakami of The Athletic, who made a few considerable points concerning Belinelli and how he could potentially fit on this roster.
Breaking it down, Belinelli is on a one-year, $6.6 million contract with the Atlanta Hawks this season. Formerly selected by the Warriors with the 18th pick of the 2007 NBA Draft, the 31-year-old has had a number of stints with various NBA teams over the course of his 16-year basketball career, earning an NBA title with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014.
This season, Belinelli is averaging 11.4 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists on 41.0 percent shooting from the field, 37.2 percent shooting from behind the arc and 92.7 percent shooting from the free throw line.
Why make a deal for Belinelli?
Belinelli’s shooting ability is the main reason why any NBA team would consider making a deal for him. While his $6.6 million is a bit on the hefty side, the fact that he’s on an expiring deal still makes Belinelli an attractive trade chip.
Although Belinelli would definitely meet an immediate need, the Warriors are unlikely to meet Atlanta’s asking price. Atlanta is hoping to take back a second-round pick in exchange for Belinelli, but the Warriors are currently unable to deal a second rounder until 2020.
And frankly, Belinelli isn’t worth giving up a first rounder, which means the Warriors would have to somehow convince the Hawks to take on one of Golden State’s younger assets. It’s unlikely the Hawks would take on another big man such as Damian Jones or Kevon Looney, so a deal would have to be centered around Patrick McCaw.
However, McCaw is on an expiring $1.3 million contract, so the Hawks would have to be willing to take on Nick Young‘s $5.2 million to make the salaries match. As of right now, the Hawks don’t have the space to take back two contracts for the price of one.
Next: 2018 Trade Deadline Primer
The Warriors could also stand pat at the deadline and hopefully add Belinelli for cheap should he end up on the buyout market. Considering the Warriors currently have 17 players on their roster, they would have to waive a player in order to add Belinelli.