Report: Belinelli breaks jaw in exhibition with Italy

Just days after the Sacramento Kings agreed to trade him to the Charlotte Hornets, shooting guard Marco Belinelli suffered a broken jaw while playing for Italy in an international exhibition game against Canada, Sportando reports.

The Hornets, somewhat curiously, agreed to fork over the No. 22 overall pick for Belinelli on draft night, but since the trade can't be consummated until the new $94-million salary cap takes effect on July 7, they drafted shooting guard Malachi Richardson on the Kings' behalf.

If the Hornets are having any second thoughts, the injury could potentially bail them out, as Belinelli will have to pass a physical before the trade can become official. If not, the projected recovery timetable of four-to-six weeks should still have Belinelli fully healthy in time for training camp.

According to Sportando, Belinelli will remain with the Italian national team in Turin as it prepares for Olympic qualifying in early July.

- With h/t to Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer