Marco Belinelli has been a solid acquisition for the Atlanta Hawks. The veteran Italian shooting guard, who came over along with Miles Plumlee for the Charlotte Hornets in the Dwight Howard trade, is averaging a career-high 12 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists this season while shooting 40 percent beyond the arc.
Despite being on the worst team in the NBA, Belinelli is getting a golden opportunity to showcase himself with the Hawks in a contract year. The 31-year-old told Massimo Lopes Pegna of La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sportando) that he’s hoping this season with the Hawks can help him earn another long-term contract in free agency this offseason.
“My goal is to sign a new two or three year contract this summer. I am giving it all on the court for the Hawks” the guard said. “Europe? It is an hypothesis that I will start considering in the future. It would be a normal epilogue for my career because there is always a bit of homesickness. But I love America: here I have realized my dream and I work well here. But I miss Italy and I will live there (when my career is over)” Belinelli added.
The free-agent market in 2018 is expected to be much tighter than in past years when the spike in the salary cap saw massive spending from teams. Most teams will likely be hesitant to devote too many dollars and years to aging reserves like Belinelli.
However, NBA teams always need some shooting, and if Belinelli can show he can still provide that sort of consistent production from the perimeter, he could just convince a team to hand him that long-term deal he’s looking for.
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