Omri Casspi on the radar of New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs – NBA Rumour Mill
An interesting titbit has come up recently. On the night of the expiration of NBA’s, now old Collective Bargaining Agreement or CBA, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Sacramento Kings made a trade involving Omri Casspi and J.J. Hickson. Now it has been revealed that the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks wanted in on the action and could still try to make a move once the lockout ends.
The trade saw J.J. Hickson leave the Cleveland Cavaliers, an expected event since the Cavs drafted Tristan Thompson as the 4th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, to join the Sacramento Kings. In return, the Cavs got Omri Casspi, the Israeli who played with the Kings for 2 years, and a protected 1st round draft pick in the future.
The Knicks and the Spurs apparently wanted Casspi as well. The Spurs in particular have a history of going after international players and have had great success with their choices in the past, case in point Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. The Knicks wanted to get a player they believe could add some much needed depth to a roster that has been severely depleted since they traded everyone good, except Amar’e Stoudemire, in order to get their hands on superstar forward Carmelo Anthony and veteran point guard Chauncey Billups.
However, the Cavs were in no mood to let go of the player. Cleveland Cavaliers GM Chris Grant is believed to have told the interested parties that the franchise saw Omri Casspi as a part of its future and did not trade for him with the intent of moving him on. The Cavs seemingly had coveted Casspi’s signature ever since the Sacramento Kings drafted him back in 2009 and were glad to have got their man.
The Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs therefore failed to alter what proved to be the last trade before the lockout began on 1st July.
Still, the Cavaliers now have a player they know is wanted by at least two teams and could view him as an important bargaining tool for the future. Casspi certainly has the potential to develop into a good player and in any case if the Cavs wanted someone else, they can always go and knock on the doors of the San Antonio Spurs or the New York Knicks to make a trade happen.
On the other hand, the Spurs and the Knicks are not likely to be put off by just this one setback and can be fully expected to try and prize the player away from the Cleveland Cavaliers once the lockout ends. Omri Casspi’s stay in Cleveland could be short lived indeed.
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