SACRAMENTO, CA -- Omri Casspi will continue his second tour of duty in Sac-town. The Israeli big man agreed Sunday with the Kings on a new agreement worth $6 million over two seasons.
The Kings drafted Casspi in 2009 with a first-round pick, but left the team in 2011 when he was traded along with a first-rounder to Cleveland for J.J. Hickson.
Casspi spent two seasons with the Cavaliers, before Israeli coach David Blatt began coaching the team, and then the following offseason signed a multi-year deal with the Houston Rockets. He was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans, who waived him last offseason, eight days following the trade.
In September of 2014, Casspi signed a contract to return to Sacramento for the 2014-2015 season, starting his second go at it with the Kings. He completed the whole season, recording totals of 8.9 points per game, 3.9 rebounds per game, and a career-high in assists with 1.5 per game.
The 27 year-old 6'9" small forward also set career-high shooting clips as a reserve small forward for the Kings, who finished third-to-last in the stacked Western Conference. In the final month of the season, he put up stellar averages of 19.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game.
Casspi indicated in April his desire to return to Sacramento.
"I love it here. I want to come back. My agent knows that, I know that, I love it here," Casspi said.
Sacramento has been trying to make major moves in hopes of a turnaround year in 2015-2016, but failed to make major pickups of cherished free agents like LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Love, or Wesley Matthews.
The Kings still have been able to sign Kosta Koufos, Marco Belinelli, and James Anderson to multi-year deals, while inking Rajon Rondo to a one-year contract. These role-player signings will make an impact on the success of the team, but won't convert the Kings into a playoff-level team. The drafting of Willie Cauley-Stein will also help the production on the floor, which again will be surrounding center DeMarcus Cousins.