Free agent profile: Marco Belinelli

This is the seventh in a series of profiles focusing on this year’s free-agent class.

Player: Marco Belinelli

Former team: New Orleans Hornets

Type of free agent: Unrestricted

Positives: The Lakers might have acquired an impressive outside shooter in Steve Nash, but the Lakers are much better served if he’s directing the offense rather than trying to create his own shot. That’s where Belinelli comes in. Even if he only shot 37.7% from three-point range last season, it’s possible that stemmed from the Hornets’ trading Chris Paul to the Clippers. Belinelli averaged 41.4% from three-point range in the 2010-11 season with Paul on his team, and it’s probable his play-making skills marked the difference in his shooting.

With Nash running the offense, it’s plausible Bellinelli will improve his shooting stroke. According to Synergy Sports Technology, Belinelli shot an efficient 71.8% from the field off of cuts and 48.8% from three-point range in transition. Both areas would help the Lakers’ ball movement and ability to generate quick points in the open floor. Add in his strong reputation as a hard worker, and it appears Belinelli would prove a solid fit in addressing the Lakers’ outside shooting needs.

Negatives: Belinelli lacks strength in pretty much every area beyond shooting. But even his supposed strength has weaknesses. He’s prone to questionable shot selection, which would hurt the aging and slow Lakers on transition defense. Hoopdata.com shows Belinelli rarely attacks the rim, making it predictable on what defenders need to do to stop him. And it’s presumptuous to think Belinelli can replicate his three-point range numbers from the 2011-12 season simply because he’ll play with a better point guard. When he’s playing with the starters, it could be hard for him to find his rhythm because the ball won’t go to him right away. When he’s playing with the reserves, Steve Blake’s floor presence won’t be as efficient as Nash’s.

The Lakers have to be careful on who they pick to fulfill their outside shooting needs. They signed supposed sharpshooter Jason Kapono last season, and he offered very little. It’s possible Belinelli would fill the same job description.

Verdict: The Lakers can’t worry about whether they’re acquiring a complete player. They have limited finances (mini mid-level worth $3 million) so they can only worry about acquiring players with specific needs. Despite his aforementioned inconsistency, it’s probable Belinelli will at least provide a net positive relative to the Lakers’ poor three-point shooting last season, in which they went 38.3%. Even if the results aren’t perfect, such a move still improves the team.

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