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Omri Casspi News & Rumors

With Byron Scott still prodding, Omri Casspi producing more for Cleveland Cavaliers
March 27
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Omri Casspi had his own cheering section on Sunday. "It was a school from Israel," Casspi said with a smile after Monday's practice. "I was surprised because I didn't know they were coming. I met with them after the game. I heard them." As if inspired by their rhythmic clapping and chanting of his name, Casspi tied his season high with 14 points in 25 minutes off the bench, making five of 10 shots and grabbing five rebounds, a rare bright spot in an ugly season. In his last two games, Casspi is averaging 12.5 points and four rebounds in 20.5 minutes, shooting 52.9 percent (9 of 17). Those numbers are considerably above his season averages of 7.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 42.7 percent. "I"
Former King Casspi enjoying life as Cav
February 20
Sacramento Bee
 
"It didn't take long for Omri Casspi to become a fan favorite in Sacramento. Casspi along with Tyreke Evans were first-round draft picks of the Kings in 2009. Both started well and played in the Rookie-Sophomore Challenge during All-Star weekend. But by the end of his second season Casspi's playing time wasn't consistent and he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers for forward J.J. Hickson and a protected first-round draft pick."
Omri Casspi expresses his frustrations with labor talks on Twitter
November 12
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Omri Casspi isn't pleased with the negotiating tactics of NBA owners, and has become the latest player to vent his frustration through social media. The Cavaliers swingman used his Twitter account to express his displeasure with the labor talks on Friday night, pushing for union decertification. His locked-out players union is weighing the latest offer from the league after two days of marathon bargaining sessions this week produced no resolution in the 134-day work stoppage. In the spring, NBA Commissioner David Sternsaid 22 of 30 teams were losing money, totaling around $300 million. "If the NBA claim loses of 300mil dollars, why they aren't opening the books to the players and letting"
Israeli pro team owner says Omri Casspi will play overseas during NBA lockout
August 15
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Maccabi Tel Aviv co-cowner David Federman said in an interview on Israeli radio on Sunday that Cavaliers forward Omri Casspi has entered into discussions to play with Maccabi Tel Aviv during the NBA lockout, although Casspi would be able to return to the Cavs immediately if the NBA and its players association reach an agreement. A source close to Casspi, who suffered a minor knee injury last week in training with the Israeli national team that could keep him out of the upcoming European championships, said the discussions were preliminary at this point and that nothing had been finalized."
Omri Casspi injures knee while training with Israeli basketball team
August 12
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"There are conflicting reports about a knee injury suffered by Cavaliers forward Omri Casspi during training with the Israeli basketball team. Because of the NBA lockout, the Cavaliers cannot contact Casspi or comment on the reports. According to eurobasket.com, Casspi, the first Israeli-born player in the NBA, slipped during practice on Wednesday, will have physical therapy for two weeks and is questionable for the EuroBasket championships in Lithuania. The team is trying to finish in the top six in the EuroBasket tournament, which would qualify it for next summer's last-chance Olympic qualifying tournament, where the final three teams to win London 2012 bids will be decided. "The knee is"
Casspi pulls muscle during practice, may miss Eurobasket
August 11
Pro Basketball Talk
 
"This was a knee injury, not a pulled muscle as first described, and because of that Israel's Omri Casspi may miss EuroBasket. Which pretty much dooms the country's already long-shot chances. He says it will take six weeks to heal, but EuroBasket starts at the end of August. It didn't sound like the kind of thing that should scare Cavaliers fans (they just trade for the guy) but he told Eurobasket.com he is not risking further damage. The knee is not something you play around with,' Casspi said, 'I will not play again until I know I'm 100% capable.' 'I'm not sure if I will play in the EuroBasket. It's too early to decide now, but I feel horrible pains and can barley move. I will need around"
Spurs were interested in Casspi until the lockout shut off transactions
July 5
San Antonio Express-News
 
"The Spurs apparently were active right up until the cutoff point before the lockout as they attempted to swing a late trade. ESPN.com's Marc Stein tweets that Spurs and the Knicks both were interested in 6-for-9 forward Omri Casspi, who eventually ended up in Cleveland in the J.J. Hickson trade. Casspi remained with the Cavaliers and the Spurs couldn't get the deal done before last Thursday's shutoff point."
Report: Spurs, Knicks called Cavaliers about Casspi
July 4
Pro Basketball Talk
 
"The only really interesting pre-lockout trade in the NBA was the Cavaliers sending J.J. Hickson to the Sacramento Kings for Omri Casspi and a future pick (likely first rounder but there are a number of protections on it). Generally, it is thought the Kings won that trade (they got the better player). But there is also certainly some interest around the league in the Israeli Casspi, as Marc Stein of ESPN noted on twitter."
Cavs trade J.J. Hickson to Kings for Omri Casspi, 1st-round pick
June 30
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"In a move to clear out the logjam at power forward and address the void at small forward, the Cavaliers traded power forward J.J. Hickson to the Sacramento Kings on Thursday for small forward Omri Casspi and a 2012 first-round draft choice. The deal was completed hours before the collective bargaining agreement is set to expire. All indications are that the NBA will lock out its players beginning at 12:01 a.m. Friday. Hickson, 22, was the 19th pick in the 2008 draft and has been the Cavs starting power forward for the better part of two seasons in spite of a maddening tendency to disappear during games, especially on the boards. He did rebound better after moving to center in the middle of"
Sources: Cavaliers, Kings near deal
June 30
ESPN.com
 
"The Cleveland Cavaliers are in advanced discussions on a trade that would send power forward J.J. Hickson to the Sacramento Kings for swingman Omri Casspi, according to sources briefed on the talks. It's believed that the teams must complete the deal Thursday before midnight to ensure its completion, with a lockout widely expected at 12:01 a.m. ET Friday, barring unforeseen progress in labor talks between the league and the NBA Players Association."
Kings exercise options on Evans, Cousins and Casspi
June 23
NBA.com
 
"The Sacramento Kings have exercised the rookie contract options on guard Tyreke Evans, forward Omri Casspi and center DeMarcus Cousins for the 2012-13 season, Kings' President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie announced today. Evans, a two-year NBA veteran, averaged a team-high 17.8 points (.409 FGs, .291 3FGs, .771 FTs), 4.8 rebounds, a team-leading 5.6 assists and 1.49 steals per game through 57 outings with the Kings this past season. He was the winner of the 2009-10 NBA Rookie of the Year Award and became only the fourth player in NBA history to average 20 points, five rebounds and five assists as a rookie."
Casspi unhappy with diminished role
April 6
Sacramento Bee
 
"With less playing time these days, Kings second-year forward Omri Casspi believes it would be "egotistical" to demand a trade but made it clear he would welcome a new opportunity next season. Casspi made his feelings known in a column for the Israeli sports website One. Casspi said the Kings situation is not "ideal" and there are teams that covet his services next season. "I know that there are many teams, including some playoff teams, that want me ahead of next season," Casspi wrote. "I hope to find myself in a team that appreciates me as a player and a person, a team that plays like a team." The Kings' 104-101 win over the Houston Rockets Tuesday at Toyota Center was the fifth time in"
Kings' Casspi gets 'golden opportunity'
January 31
Sacramento Bee
 
"The Kings pulled off a big win in Portland last Monday, but Omri Casspi was stuck on three blown defensive assignments as he walked to the team bus. Casspi rectified those mistakes in the second half, but he still wasn't pleased. That's the kind of accountability the Kings want to see from the second-year forward. Not only did Casspi recognize his mistakes, he corrected them. Casspi is being given a chance to show his growth as a player. There is no timetable for Francisco García to return from an injury to his strained left calf, so Casspi is starting at small forward. Calling this stretch career-defining might be a reach. What Casspi can do is possibly ease some of the Kings' concern"
Bulls, Knicks looking at Kings' Casspi
January 4
SportingNews.com
 
"The Bulls and Knicks have expressed interest in trading for Kings forward Omri Casspi, ESPN.com reported Sunday. Casspi, though, might be difficult to trade, according to the site, for two reasons: He's popular with Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof, and Sacramento likely will want teams to also take on a high-priced player such as Francisco Garcia. That would cost New York in particular precious salary cap space heading into the offseason."
Casspi provides spark off bench as Kings rally for win
October 20
Sacramento Bee
 
"Make no mistake, Omri Casspi wants to be a starter. He doesn't want to be seen as simply a role player - he wants to be a major contributor. But that's not his role with the Kings right now. Casspi is a reserve, and the Kings hope his fiery style can jump-start the team off the bench. Much of Casspi's success in that role will depend on how he accepts it. Thus far he's been willing to serve as a sparkplug, including Tuesday night during the Kings' 96-94 exhibition win over the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. The Kings won on Tyreke Evans' layup with 1.9 seconds left. They were in position to pull out the victory because Casspi flourished off the bench in his best game of the"
Kings player's mural defaced with swastika again
September 17
Sacramento Bee
 
"A midtown mural depicting Sacramento Kings player Omri Casspi recently was defaced with a swastika - the second time in a week, according to authorities. An unidentified caller reported the vandalism on the mural - painted along the east side of 16th street, south of Q Street - to city officials about 10:30 a.m., said Sacramento police Sgt. Norm Leong. City workers painted over the swastika shortly thereafter. Leong said it's unclear when the vandalism occurred, though it likely was recent. Last week, city officials were alerted to a swastika painted on the forehead of Casspi, who is from Israel. Leong said police have no leads on that crime, or the more recent one. And although police"
Swastika painted on Kings mural in Sacramento
September 9
Sacramento Bee
 
"The Sacramento Police Department is investigating as a possible hate crime graffiti painted on a mural of Sacramento Kings players in the midtown area. Police Department spokesman Officer Konrad von Schoech said a report was received about noon Wednesday that a swastika had been painted on a plywood mural at 16th and R streets. The backward swastika was painted on the forehead of Kings player Omri Casspi, who is from Israel. "This act of hate and intolerance is despicable and cowardly, said Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg in a written statement. "It is all the more offensive because it occurred on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, the celebration of the Jewish new year. As residents of"
NBA TV Special at 8pm "Promised Land: Omri Casspi - NBA Pioneer"
May 19
Washington Examiner
 columnist Jim Williams
"Tonight at 8pm NBA TV will showcase a wonderful special that I had a chance to preview. It is well worth your time to check it out. This season, Omri Casspi became the first Israeli to make an NBA team, and his pioneering achievement as a member of the Sacramento Kings is a source of immense pride in his home country. In this one-hour special, viewers follow Casspi both on and off the court to cover multiple storylines, including Omri's adjustment to a new league and culture and his role as Israel's ambassador to the NBA."