Atlanta Hawks to Release Marco Belinelli to Free Agency
By Kit Anderson
The Atlanta Hawks are working on a deal to buyout Marco Belinelli allowing the shooter to become a free agent and join a contending team. Letting Marco go after failing to trade him isn’t surprising.
The fact the Atlanta Hawks failed to move Marco Belinelli was shocking after they sat him and told him that he would be traded. With the trade deadline coming and going already the Hawks didn’t manage to trade Marco and will now buy him out.
Buying out Belinelli will open up minutes for younger players and allow him to join a contending team. The move to buy him out after sitting him and telling him he would be dealt isn’t surprising.
It will give more minutes to young players who the Hawks are attempting to build around. The failure to deal him for anything is disappointing considering all the interest that he was getting before the deadline on Thursday.
Marco much like the recently dealt Luke Babbitt gave the Hawks quality minutes and a consistent scorer that they will miss.
Finding a way to replace his ability from beyond the arc will not be easy and will likely net the Hawks a higher draft pick. Some may view this move as an attempt to further tank the season.
A leap that is understandable considering the questionable choices that the Hawks have made in recent memory.
Dealing Luke Babbitt and buying out Marco Belinelli may not change the Hawks trajectory, but it certainly will hurt a team that competes every night for it’s fans and coaching staff. Marco is reportedly garnering a lot of interest for several contending teams updates to follow.