Ronald Martinez - Getty Images
over 1 year ago: DALLAS TX - FEBRUARY 16: Forward Omri Casspi #18 of the Sacramento Kings makes the slam dunk against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on February 16 2011 in Dallas Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and or using this photograph User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The writing was on the wall during the NBA Draft when the Cleveland Cavaliers selected Tristan Thompson with the #4 overall pick - J.J. Hickson's days in Cleveland were numbered. With a Lockout pending tonight at midnight, those days may be about to come to an end.
According to SBN-Cleveland, via various outlets, the Cavaliers are about to make a deal with the Sacramento Kings, sending Hickson out west for SF Omri Casspi.
ESPN.com's Marc Stein tweeted the news first, while Sports Illustrated scribe (and former Kings beat writer) Sam Amick added more information, saying, "Omri Casspi was told by Kings management that he is likely to be traded to Cleveland for JJ Hickson in the next couple of hours."
Hickson, 22, is a three-year veteran with career averages of 9.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 49.5 percent shooting. He's coming off a campaign in which he posted career-highs in scoring, rebounding, and assists, as well as a career-low in shooting percentage. The Cavaliers' selection of power forward Tristan Thompson in the 2011 NBA Draft indicates they believe he has a brighter future than Hickson.
With Christian Eyenga the only small forward on the team, Casspi will get an opportunity to play and perhaps even start for the Cavaliers - if there is a season, that is.
0 recs | 15 comments
Casspi will start at SF
Plus, we got 1st Rounder out of Sac-town, too!
Tiny iZ Boss - June 30, 2011
From Cavs website
woodsmeister - June 30, 2011
Can someone explain this protected thing for me?
emily522 - June 30, 2011
Basically, if they miss the playoffs next year, they keep the pick and we have to wait. If their pick is between 1 and 13 two years from now, they keep the pick and we have to wait. Three years, if it’s top 10 they keep it we wait etc..
Not super pumped about the extreme level of protectedness. There’s a chance we’ll never see this pick.
Adrock2099 - June 30, 2011
That’s dumb.
emily522 - June 30, 2011
Yep. And the kicker is that if they haven’t given us a pick by 2017, we get their 2nd rounder… UNLESS it’s pick 56-60, in which case they’ll keep it and we never get anything ever.
Adrock2099 - July 1, 2011
That isn't going to happen people.
Wake up!
E5 - July 2, 2011
I like the trade. Hickson’s time was done and Casspi should be good. I’ll have a player profile of Casspi up later today and I’ll go over the specifics of the conditions on the first round pick.
Conrad Kaczmarek - June 30, 2011
they should of just taken stoudemire last year then,casspi stinks
jadedeed2327 - June 30, 2011
I’m okay with this.
emily522 - June 30, 2011
And the first round pick.
emily522 - June 30, 2011
what year is pick they are getting
jadedeed2327 - June 30, 2011
The protected thing makes me nervous, Sac town is on the rise and some of the perennial powers in the west are faltering imo. I like Casspi, but I can’t help but wonder if there was something better out there. I think this trade came too late…
allovertheplace - July 1, 2011
I don’t think you understand how the protections work. We NEED them to be good in order to get their pick. If it’s in the lottery this year, we don;t get it. If it’s in top 13 next year, we don’t get it..and so on.
Conrad Kaczmarek - July 1, 2011
Any later
and we would have been into lockout time! You also don’t understand the protection at all. We want Sac to get better. Kind of like just make the playoffs kind of better. Sort like how we drafted J.J in the first place better. So in the worst case we will have Casspi plus a pick most likely around were J.J was picked in the first place. “What’s not to Like”
E5 - July 2, 2011
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