After being traded from Sacramento to New Orleans as part of last month’s DeMarcus Cousins blockbuster, Omri Casspi endured some bad luck, breaking his thumb in his first game with his new team. However, having been waived by the Pelicans, Casspi is now drawing interest from playoff teams and could make an impact down the stretch, reports ESPN’s Marc Stein (Twitter links).
League sources tell Stein that Casspi, who was initially ruled out for four to six weeks, is ahead of schedule in his recovery from his thumb injury, and may only be about a week from receiving medical clearance. Although Stein doesn’t specify which teams might be eyeing Casspi, he notes that “multiple” clubs are in pursuit.
Casspi wasn’t just a throw-in for New Orleans in the Cousins trade — if he had stayed healthy, he could have provided the Pelicans with some much-needed outside shooting. The club was somewhat short-handed in the backcourt after acquiring Cousins though, and needed to free up Casspi’s roster spot to create room for a healthy player.
Although his role in Sacramento had been dialed back significantly this season after he posted a career-high 11.8 PPG in 2015/16, Casspi continued to be an effective shooter for the Kings this season. After making more than 40% of his three-point attempts in each of the last two years, Casspi has a 39.4% success rate from three-point range this season.
No teams currently in playoff position have open roster spots, but the Cavaliers will soon free one up by waiving Andrew Bogut, and the Rockets’ 15th player – Troy Williams – is on a 10-day contract. Any other current playoff team would have to cut someone in order to add Casspi, who will be postseason-eligible.
Even though they aren’t currently a playoff team the way that the 6-8 spots are in the east the Hornets still have a chance and should make a run at Casspi
That would actually be a fit for them. The have the positional versatility to be able to play him in certain lineups. I can think of a couple of other teams he could be interesting on
You could play him at the 3 or the 4 in a small ball lineup with Walker, bellineli/Lamb, Batum, Casspi and Kaminsky
Boston can waive James Young and add a playoff caliber rotation player. I don’t see a reason not to do this.
Yep. Will help out on the boards
The Hornets would be cool. I think the Cavs, Warriors, Rockets, and Grizz will be on him hard.
and raptors.
Can the Pelicans not re-sign him (after freeing up a roster spot)?
I believe they could, I think they were dumb to get rid of him in the first place.