Marco Belinelli will enter free agency this offseason as an unrestricted free agent with the NBA as a priority, but Europe is also an option.
Belinelli mentioned this in a recent interview with L’Avvenire, adapted by bolognabasket.com.
“The priority is to stay on an NBA team to try and win another title,” Belinelli said. “But I don’t rule out other options.”
The 34-year-old began his professional career in Italy with Virtus Bologna and Fortitudo Bologna.
Belinelli has been in the NBA since being drafted by the Golden State Warriors in 2007.
He also spoke about the coronavirus pandemic’s effect on the league, as he thinks the season is over, despite the NBA trying to work things out.
“My feeling is that the season is over. It is very bad, but without a vaccine, I see it hard to get back to action safely,” Belinelli said. “Even if they try to do everything to start again, because I understand the financial impact. We must keep up, it’s a sad moment, many deaths. I hope we can smile again soon, with the awareness that when it passes, we will appreciate life more.”
It wouldn’t be a shock to see Belinelli eventually return to Italy, considering his age and declined role in the NBA recently.
He would also be more of a primary option there and could even potentially make more than the NBA’s minimum salary.
However, based on his comment about wanting to win another title, there’s always a chance Belinelli could join a contending team in the offseason.
