The Kings’ plan is coming into focus: Get better quickly.
They traded Nik Stauskas to clear cap space, and they’ll use some of it on a player who has already reached a reasonable good-case scenario for Stauskas – Marco Belinelli.
Ramona Shelburne of ESPN:
Marco Bellinelli will sign with the Kings for three years, $19 million
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) July 3, 2015
Ken Berger of CBSSports.com:
No options in Belinelli's deal, source says.
— Ken Berger (@KBergNBA) July 3, 2015
In a vacuum, this is a solid value. Belinelli is a lights-out outside shooter, and George Karl’s offense will get him plenty of corner 3s (and/or make it more difficult for defenses to double-team DeMarcus Cousins inside).
But how much difference will the 29-year-old Belinelli make? Adding him won’t lift the Kings into serious playoff contention, and it’s difficult to see Sacramento building off this signing with other moves that will.
I suppose, if the first-round picks the Kings might swap with the 76ers are unprotected, there’s no harm in getting marginally better. Once that original mistake was made, the Kings just have to make the best of it now. But, depending on those protections, Sacramento might just be headed for a few extra wins and a worse draft pick.