Casspi to remain in Sacramento with new two-year deal

The first Israeli in the NBA agrees to a new two-year $6 million deal with the Sacramento Kings.

By ALLON SINAI
Israeli NBA star Omri Casspi (photo credit: REUTERS)
Israeli NBA star Omri Casspi
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Omri Casspi had to be patient, but he ultimately got his wish.
The first Israeli in the NBA agreed to a new two-year $6 million deal with the Sacramento Kings on Monday, ensuring he will remain with the franchise which handed him his first opportunity in the league and at which he resurrected his career last season.
“I’m all in. #SacramentoProud,” Casspi tweeted on Monday.
Casspi kick-started his faltering NBA career in Sacramento last season, averaging 8.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game, his best numbers since his first two years in the league with the Kings.
Casspi and the Kings agreed to a one-year minimum deal last July after he was traded away by Houston and waived by the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Israeli forward, who also had a two-year stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers, impressed in particular in the second half of the campaign and led the Kings in 3-point shooting over the entire season at 40.2 percent.
With teams initially focusing on the biggest free agents in the market, Casspi had to wait for his time to arrive. Sacramento had already reached agreements with point guard Rajon Rondo, center Kosta Koufos and shooting guard Marco Belinelli, while also agreeing to send Nik Stauskas and Jason Thompson and Carl Landry to the Philadelphia 76ers in a trade aimed at clearing space under the salary cap, before finally coming to terms on a new contract with Casspi.