Omri Casspi enjoyed a career year in 2015/16 under George Karl and his fast-paced system, but things have slowed down in Sacramento this season under new head coach Dave Joerger. With Casspi spending plenty of time on the bench for Joerger and the Kings, his agents have “quietly been making inquiries” around the NBA about a potential trade, according to Ailene Voisin of The Sacramento Bee.
Voisin stresses that Casspi has not requested a trade, but writes that the veteran forward is “clearly” miserable, and would likely welcome a change of scenery. For what it’s worth, Casspi’s comments to reporters suggest he believes a trade is a possibility. After having said last week that he “might be somewhere else,” he again alluded to the possibility of getting playing time somewhere besides Sacramento, as Voisin details.
“The team is trying to figure out its identity,” Casspi said. “I understand that. But I really wanted to be part of building something special here. The fans have been through hell and high water. They are incredible. They get me going. Hopefully, I will still be part of it. I think I can fit in. The system is a lot like Michael Malone’s, and I adjusted. But I want to play. I need to play. If not here, then somewhere.”
Casspi, 28, averaged a career-high 11.8 PPG last season, and established new career bests in several other categories as well, including RPG (5.9), 3PT% (.409), and 3PT (1.6). This year, he has only appeared in six games for the Kings, averaging just 15.3 MPG and 4.3 PPG in those contests.
The trade market likely won’t pick up until at least mid-December, and it’s possible that Casspi will get a longer look from Joerger and start earning more consistent minutes by then. But if things continue as they have over the season’s first month, Casspi figures to be one of a handful of trade candidates this winter for the Kings. Rudy Gay and Kosta Koufos have also been the subject of trade rumors in Sacramento, while Willie Cauley-Stein and DeMarcus Cousins are among the longer shots to be moved by the team.
Apparently not too quietly if you are aware of it…