Remember how Omri Casspi didn’t request a trade from the Sacramento Kings? Well, about that…he kind of did…or is…or something.
From the Sacramento Bee‘s Ailene Vosin:
Omri Casspi wants to call Sacramento home. He wants to be here. He never wanted to leave in the first place. The Kings’ 2009 first-round draft choice, who also has spent time with Houston and Cleveland, rejected more lucrative offers to re-sign with his original club two offseasons ago.
But this on-again, off-again relationship appears destined for another split. The Kings have a new coach, a glistening new arena, a new roster with a surprising number of older players, and seemingly little need for their popular small forward.
…
Though his agents quietly have been making inquiries around the league, Casspi, who has remained on the bench for five of the past six games – four of which were losses – has not formally requested a trade. That isn’t his style, either. But based on his demeanor, a change of address undoubtedly would be welcomed. Clearly he is miserable. He leaps off the bench to congratulate teammates during timeouts, remains engaged in huddles, and works out privately after games and practices to maintain a reasonable level of conditioning. Yet transparent to a fault, his dulled brown eyes, occasional head shakes and emotional gestures reveal his frustrations.
Casspi has every right to be frustrated. He has fallen completely out of head coach Dave Joerger’s rotation after having a career year under George Karl last season. The half-court-oriented style Joerger is championing doesn’t perfectly suit Casspi, but, despite his sub-25 percent clip from three this year, he can still be a valuable floor-spacer.
Trading him seems to be in the best interests of both sides. Casspi needs a fresh start, and the Kings don’t need another walking rumor mill on their hands. But moving Casspi is difficult. He clearly has value after shooting the lights out over the last two seasons, but his salary checks in at under $3 million, meaning the Kings will need a nice pick or prospect back to make dumping him worthwhile. That, or they’ll need to package him alongside players, such as Rudy Gay or DeMarcus Cousins, who make more, as part of a larger deal.
Failing a trade, though, Casspi can rest easy knowing that he’s a free agent at year’s end. He only has to tolerate his current situation for so much longer.
