Report: Pelicans release Omri Casspi, Kings expected to put in waiver claim
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As expected, the New Orleans Pelicans have waived recently-acquired forward Omri Casspi, according to a report from Marc Stein of ESPN.
Casspi was primarily considered by the Pelicans to be salary ballast in their acquisition of Omri Casspi, but he's a valued commodity around the league and should find a home in short order. One of his former teams, in particular, seems keen to jump:
Omri Casspi has already publicly expressed interest in returning to Kings and word is Sacramento is planning to put in a waiver claim on him
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 23, 2014
With the seventh-worst record in the league, only six teams could top the Kings in a waiver claim for the 26-year-old native of Israel.
The Kings selected Casspi 23rd overall in the 2009 NBA Draft, and he spent his first two seasons in the league with the club before being traded, along with a first-round pick, to the Cleveland Cavaliers for J.J. Hickson. He signed with the Houston Rockets last offseason and spent the 2013-14 season as a reserve floor-spacing threat.
In 327 career games over five seasons, Casspi has averaged 7.7 points and 3.8 rebounds in 20.7 minutes while hitting 35.2 percent from long range. With a salary of just $1.1 million for this season, which becomes guaranteed on Aug. 5 per Sham Sports, it seems Casspi should be a popular waiver target.