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Shortly after the Philadelphia 76ers ripped off their seventh straight home victory Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center, ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski dropped one of his customary bombs:
Guard Marco Belinelli has committed to the Philadelphia 76ers to sign a free agent contract, league sources tell ESPN. Belinelli agreed to a buyout with the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, and can sign with the Sixers upon clearing waivers.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 11, 2018
Belinelli was an accessory in the deal that sent Dwight Howard to the Atlanta Hawks this past offseason, and the 31-year-old shooting guard never seemed to be part of the team’s long-term plans. That said, he put up some solid numbers as a reserve for the Hawks this season (11.4 PPG, 37.2 3PT% in 23.3 MPG), and received offers from several teams before signing with the Sixers.
As an 11-year veteran, Belinelli is a solid - and cheap - late-season addition to a rather thin 76ers’ second unit. This signing (which can’t officially take place until Belinelli clears waivers on Monday) virtually guarantees that Jerryd Bayless will rack up a few more DNP-CDs, and it also serves as insurance in case Markelle Fultz doesn’t return this season.
TRUST THE PROCESS
— Marco Belinelli (@marcobelinelli) February 11, 2018