Omri Casspi, the first Israeli to play in the NBA, has been traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers by the Sacramento Kings. (Chamber of Fear via CC)
(JTA) — Omri Casspi, the first Israeli to play in the NBA, has been traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Sacramento Kings sent Casspi, 23, and a 2012 first-round draft pick to the Cavs in exchange for power forward J.J. Hickson in a deal announced Thursday.
Casspi, a favorite of Jewish fans across the country, had expressed a desire to be traded because he believed he was not getting enough playing time.
Both 6-foot-9-inch forwards were No. 1 draft picks by their original teams: Casspi in 2009 and Hickson the previous year out of North Carolina State.
In the 2010-11 season, Casspi averaged 8.6 points and 4.3 rebounds playing 24 minutes a game, mostly as a reserve. His playing time diminished as the season progressed.
Hickson averaged 13.8 points and 8.7 rebounds, mostly as a starter.
Casspi is training to play with the Israeli national team in the European basketball championships in August.
NBA owners told representatives of the National Basketball Players Association on Thursday that they will be instituting a lockout, according to reports, after the two sides failed to work out a new collective bargaining agreement.
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