Sources: Cavaliers, Kings near deal

[BernietheKid]

Sources: Cavaliers, Kings near deal

Updated: June 30, 2011, 1:18 PM ET
By Marc Stein
ESPN.com
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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.

The Cavaliers have been shopping Hickson for some time and have decided to part with the young power forward in exchange for Casspi, who has been coveted for his combination of defense, energy and underrated perimeter shooting by numerous teams after two solid seasons with the Kings.

Marc Stein is a senior NBA writer for ESPN.com.

Sources: Cleveland Cavaliers near trade with Sacramento Kings - ESPN

[BernietheKid]

Here is Casspi's stat page:

Omri Casspi Stats, News, Videos, Highlights, Pictures, Bio - Sacramento Kings - ESPN

He is 6'9 and 225lbs. He will likely challenge to start for the 3 spot.

[BernietheKid]

This from LLoyd
@ABJCavsInsider Jason Lloyd
# Cavs are trading J.J. Hickson to Kings for SF Omri Casspi, future 1st rd pick, per league sources. Story upcoming on Ohio.com

5 minutes ago via web

[BernietheKid]

Cavs may trade J.J. Hickson to Kings for Omri Casspi

Published: Thursday, June 30, 2011, 1:20 PM Updated: Thursday, June 30, 2011, 1:52 PM

By Mary Schmitt Boyer, The Plain DealerThe Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio - In a move to clear out the logjam at power forward and address the void at small forward, the Cavaliers are discussing trading power forward J.J. Hickson to the Sacramento Kings for small forward Omri Casspi and a future first-round draft choice, NBA sources confirmed on Thursday.

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 this past season when Anderson Varejao went out with an ankle injury and wound up averaging 13.8 points and 8.7 rebounds per game last season while shooting 45.8 percent from the field and 67.3 percent from the free-throw line.

Casspi, 23, became the first Israeli-born athlete in the NBA when the Kings made him the 23rd pick in 2009. The 6-6, 225-pound forward has been mostly a backup for the Kings, shooting 41 percent from the field and 37 percent from 3-point range, ranking 30th in the league last season.

The Cavs have had an eye on Casspi since 2009 but he was gone by the time the Cavs picked 30th in that draft. They took forward/guard Christian Eyenga instead.
Now they have a chance to develop first-round draft choice Tristan Thompson, bolster the weakest part of their roster and avoid a sticky contract situation as well. Hickson was scheduled to make $2.35 million next season, which would have been his fourth with the team. Then the team would have been forced to decide whether to offer him just a qualifying offer for 2012-13, making him a restricted free agent, or to sign him to a longer contract for much more money in spite of his often uneven performances.

To some extent, they would face the same situation with Casspi, who will make $1.34 million next season and $2.28 million the following year, but they would have two more years to judge his performances.

In addition, the draft pick from Sacramento could be a late lottery pick if the team doesn't turn things around. It likely would be top-10 protected, so the Kings wouldn't send it to the Cavs until they're drafting 11th or lower in the first round.

Cavs may trade J.J. Hickson to Kings for Omri Casspi | cleveland.com

[Masters]

Cavaliers trade J.J. Hickson to Kings for Casspi

By TOM WITHERS, AP Sports Writer




CLEVELAND (AP)—Clearing out a logjam at power forward, the Cleveland Cavaliers traded J.J. Hickson(notes) on Thursday to the Sacramento Kings for forward Omri Casspi(notes) and a future first-round pick.
Hickson’s days in Cleveland were numbered when the club drafted Texas forward Tristan Thompson(notes) with the No. 4 overall pick in last week’s NBA draft. Hickson has shown potential to be a star, but his on-court lapses frustrated Cavaliers coach Byron Scott last season.
Texas' Tristan Thompson ta…
AP - Jun 23, 8:47 pm EDT

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The 23-year-old Casspi averaged 8.6 points and 4.3 rebounds last season, his second in the NBA. The Cavaliers were in need of a small forward and Casspi will likely step right into Scott’s starting lineup.
“We’re excited to add a young, talented, tough-minded player like Omri, that we feel is a good fit for our team and can help improve our perimeter group, while also being able to obtain another important asset with the additional first-round draft pick,” Cavaliers general manager Chris Grant said in a statement.
Casspi became the first Israeli ever to play in the NBA when he was drafted by Sacramento 23rd overall in 2009. The designation came with as much fanfare as it did pressure to succeed from a country that loves basketball. He started 27 games for the Kings, but his minutes were limited playing behind promising youngsters DeMarcus Cousins(notes), Jason Thompson(notes) and Donte Green.
The Cavaliers said the first-round pick they obtained is lottery protected in 2012 (Nos. 1-14). The pick is then protected in 2013 (1-13), 2014 (1-12) and 2015-2017 (1-10). If the pick is not conveyed by 2017, then Sacramento will convey its own 2017 second-round pick to the Cavaliers.
In addition to Hickson and Thompson, the Cavaliers have power forwards Antawn Jamison(notes) and Samardo Samuels(notes). Hickson averaged 13.8 points and 8.7 rebounds last season, but he had long stretches where he seemed to disappear. Scott was tough on Hickson, who did pick up his game toward the end of the season.
“We’re very excited about the opportunity to acquire J.J. Hickson from the Cavaliers,” Kings GM Geoff Petrie said. “We believe he’ll continue to fortify our frontline going forward. He’s an improving young player who is just 22 years old. We believe J.J. will be an important complement to our frontcourt and overall roster as well.”

Cavaliers trade J.J. Hickson to Kings for Casspi - NBA - Yahoo! Sports

[TheBestPlayersPlay]

Hickson is a better player, but not what we are looking for. Omri is nasty, and a solid 3 point shooter, he's going to be a great role player for us. It's a win win for both teams.

Hope we get their lottery pick next year in a deep draft.

[Masters]

Roll player? He's going to be the starting SF since CLE doesn't actually have one. But in reality I think you are right that he's actually a roll player. Not sure trading a starter for a roll player and what will likely end up a 2nd round pick in 2017 is a win-win

I hope CLE doesn't come to regret this trade. JJ is only 22 and gotten better each year. Then again after next season (when ever that happens) JJ was due to be FA and probably get more $ then CLE would have been willing to pay him

[TheBestPlayersPlay]

Yah exactly, he'll be looking for a max contract for a guys who lacks defense, and max effort. Cavs have liked Omri for a while, and yes in the scheme of things, a role player. It was something we needed to pull the trigger on.


Next year best case scenario is there is no season at all, which means we go into next years draft with the 2nd most ping pong balls again. If we do have a season best case is we are bad enough to be in the lottery (we will be) and Toronto improves slightly so we get their 1st rounder.

Not to mention the added benefit of D. Wade and the colluters (it's a new band and yes I made up a word) getting one year older without a ring.

[Greythan]

Next year best case scenario is there is no season at all, which means we go into next years draft with the 2nd most ping pong balls again.

Hadn't thought of that scenario.

That would be the best case. All the power teams get another year older. We likely draft top 5 in what would be a loaded draft. We're already really young.

Unlike the NFL I wouldn't cry if I missed a year of NBA. I'd just watch a lot more NCAA bball.

Go go lockout!!

[Anthony]

Why would we want Toronto to be better? I'm confused. Do we have their pick too?

I'm hoping Sac makes the playoffs and loses in the first round.

[TheBestPlayersPlay]

Yah, you're right ...my bad I don't know why I had the Raptors on my brain.