The Toronto Raptors, already the third most-international roster in the NBA last season, just added to their global diversity.

The Raptors picked up 6-5 Italian Marco Belinelli to a roster that already included six international players.

Toronto traded 31-year old journeyman Devean George and “cash considerations” to the Golden State Warriors for Belinelli.

The 23-year old Belinelli joins newly-acquired Hedo Türkoğlu of Turkey, fellow countryman Andrea Bargnani, as well as José Calderón (Spain), Roko Ukić (Croatia), Rasho Nesterović (Slovenia), and Pops Mensah-Bonsu (England).

The addition of Belinelli gives Toronto seven legitmate international players that can realistically play anywhere from 7-42 minutes a game next season.

Belinelli never found touch in Bay Area
After being drafted 18th overall by Golden State in the 2007 NBA Draft, Belinelli first made splashes stateside with his spectacular shooting performances in the NBA summer league.

But he quickly found himself on the bench during the regular season with a glut of shooting guards ahead of him – namely Monta Ellis, Kelenna Azubuike, Mickaël Piétrus, and sometimes Stephen Jackson.

He played much more in his second season, but the Warriors still lost 53 games.  Going into his third season, the prospects of more playing time was not looking good especially with the development of Anthony Morrow and the Warrior’s selecting NCAA standout guard Stephen Curry in the 2009 draft.

With the Raptors, Belinelli will compete against rookie shooting guard DeMar DeRozan for playing time this upcoming season.  Belinelli averaged 8.9 points, 2.1 assists, and nearly one steal per game in 21 minutes last season.  He also shot 44.2% from the field and 39.7% from three.