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Kings trade Belinelli to Hornets for No. 22 pick

Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports

The Sacramento Kings traded sharpshooter Marco Belinelli to the Charlotte Hornets for the No. 22 pick in Thursday's draft.

Charlotte wound up taking Syracuse guard Malachi Richardson with the 22nd pick, seemingly on on behalf of Sacramento, as the deal can't go through until July 1.

Belinelli signed a three-year, $18-million contract to join the Kings last summer after spending two seasons with the San Antonio Spurs. The transition was tough, however, as Belinelli's averages slumped with a downgrade in talent.

The 30-year-old shot 38.6 percent from the field and a career-worst 30.6 percent from deep, while scoring 10.2 points per game.

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