SACRAMENTO, CA - The Sacramento Kings acquired the draft rights of guard Malachi Richardson (Mal-ah-kai) from the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for forward Marco Belinelli, according to Kings Vice President and General Manager Vlade Divac. Richardson will join the Kings’ summer league team in Las Vegas.
An early entry candidate, the 6-foot-6 Richardson was selected by the Hornets in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2016 NBA Draft. Richardson averaged 13.4 points (.369 FG%, .353 3pt%, .720 FT%), 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 steals and 34.4 minutes per game in starting all 37 games in which he played in as a freshman at Syracuse. An ACC All-Freshman team selection, Richardson finished with 79 three-pointers, the third-best total by an Orangeman freshman.
Belinelli averaged 10.2 points (.386 FG%, .306 3pt%, .833 FT%), 1.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 24.6 minutes per game in 68 contests, starting seven for the Kings during the 2015-16 season. A nine-year NBA veteran forward, Belinelli has career averages of 9.5 points (.424 FG%, .379 3pt%, .458 FT%), 2.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 23.0 minutes per game in 570 games of which he started 216 with six teams – Golden State (2007-08 – 2008-09), Toronto (2009-10), New Orleans (2010-11 – 2011-12), Chicago (2012-13), San Antonio (2013-14 – 2014-15) and Sacramento (2015-16).
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