Some Quick Thoughts on Omri Casspi
2013-01-07
Bemoaning the bench has become a daily event for Cavs fans. Luke Walton plays too much, there’s no back up center on this team, and before Shaun Livingston appeared we didn’t have a back up PG. Of all the frustrations we’ve encountered this season, the lack of an NBA-ready bench takes the cake.
So why, then, has Omri Casspi sat since December 21st (when he only played 1 minute)?
I’m not here to give answers, mostly because I don’t have them. We’ve all heard the rumors that he reportedly told Scott he couldn’t wait to hit free agency and we’ve all speculated reasons, like that he doesn’t work hard in practice, but to think that’s enough to force one of our more talented role players deep into the bench is an oversight.
What I am here to say is that it’s absurd that he’s sitting. For a few reasons:
First, while his raw shooting % is slightly down this year, his three point %, eFG %, and True Shooting % are all WAY up. One of the biggest struggles the Cavs have had this year is consistent three-point shooting from people not named Kyrie Irving or CJ Miles. Furthermore, taking out two of the final games he played on the 8th and 11th of December, where he shot 0-3 in both, he’s actually shooting respectably in all aspects. Given some more consistent play time, I have full confidence Omri’s shot will begin falling again.
Second, Omri is one of the few players on this team that actually tries to rebound. We know Tristan is a rebounding machine, and clearly more than enough has been written on the rebounding prowess of Andy, but Omri Casspi actually ranks third on the team in D Rebounding %, ahead of Luke Walton who has a paltry TS% of 34%.
Finally, Omri is one of the few Cavs that willingly plays tenacious D. He’s big, physical, and surprisingly strong for his lanky body.
I’d love to see some more Omri, particularly as a stretch four. The Cavs have been throwing a CLEARLY overmatched Luke Walton regularly – it would make a lot more sense to give those minutes to someone who can actually hit his wide open jumpers.
What’re your thoughts about Casspi? Would you like to see him play more?
UPDATE:
Thanks to CtBer Tom Pestak for pointing this out. We now know that Omri Casspi has requested a trade but that the Cavs seem unable to find one. Looks like I picked the right day to cover this.
Oh boy.
Cols – he’s good now. What happened to your “all young players get better” attitude?
Hickson is 24. He put up 20 and 15 on 60+% shooting (only 1 turnover) tonight. Maybe Hickson wasn’t the problem. Maybe it’s the last two organizations that failed to develop him.
Hickson wasn’t good when he was on the Cavs, then he sucked for Sacramento and just now is having an OK type of season. No reason to worry about a guy like that.
Cols- Hickson is averaging a double double- he shouldn’t be lumped in with Casspi
I’m not sure why we should care about Casspi or Hickson. Neither one is a difference maker. Guys like that are always available.
Full scoop on pick: “The first round pick acquired from Sacramento is lottery-protected in 2012 (1-14). The pick is then protected in 2013 (1-13), 2014 (1-12) and 2015-2017 (1-10). If the pick is not conveyed by 2017, then Sacramento will convey its own 2017 second round draft pick to the Cavaliers protected (56-60). ”
http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/trade_110630.html
There are few guarantees in life and none in sports. The pick is top 10 protected until 2017. That’s four more drafts after this year. The Maloofs probably won’t be the owners by then and the Kings won’t be in Sactown. I still think the Cavs get that pick. No guarantee of that of course.
Corey – I believe that there is no guarantee we will ever get the pick. If Kings never make the playoffs, I think the pick becomes a 2nd rounder. Or it may even just disappear altogether.
I still don’t think that Hickson/Cassepi trade was that bad considering the Kings gave up on Hickson too and at some point the Cavs will get like the 10th pick in the 2015 NBA draft. Hickson looks great now for Portland on a small deal for $4. If Hickson was still on the Cavs he’d probably be making 7 or 8 million a year. Cleveland has to overpay to keep guys usually. They don’t get bargains. Hickson doesn’t have a consistent mid-range game and can’t defend the post. A big who makes more than 6 mill a year has to… Read more »
Casspi plays defense? Really? News to me…
Hot Sauce, per usual, gets it right on Casppi. Dude has had multiple opportunities and hasn’t taken advantage of them.and what I think many of you are missing while lauding his shooting numbers is that he doesn’t play big at all and has shown a certain softness that is, most likely, anathema to Scott. He’s a big who plays like a small.
Kj, I certainly don’t overvalue Casspi, and he is not a lock-down defender, but looking at both four years of 82games.com opponent PER and four years of regularized-adjusted-plus-minus, both of those numbers regard Casspi as very nearly a league average defender. He gets some steals and is annually an average to well above average defensive rebounder for a small forward. He’s 6′ – 9″. He shot horribly from three last year, and is shooting way too well this year. He’s probably about the 36% three point shooter that his career average shows. He’s a guy with a 12 PER and… Read more »
After seeing Luke Walton’s performance last Friday in Charlotte, I am a believer.
He entered the game and made his appearance known immediately by committing a dumb foul then leaving his man for a 3 on defense. On my favorite possession he air-balled a 3 pointer, TT scooped up the rebound, Walton found himself with the ball again and air-balled a second three pointer and went out of bounds.
He’s doing all he can to give the Cavs a high draft pick. That’s his mission and he’s succeeding.
That wasn’t me, by the way…has someone else been using my name before?
That Hickson for Casspi trade is now approaching Jiri Welsch territory for me.
Consider:
Cavs traded 1st round pick which ended up being #24 for Jiri Welsch.
Welsch played 192 of the most epically awful minutes that the Cavs just CUT HIM.
If you imagine last season never happened. (last season killed Hickson’s value) this trade looks worse. Hickson likely a most improved player or comeback player candidate. Casspi can’t get off the bench of an 8 win team that plays Luke Walton in his stead.
Casspi: “I’d like to request a trade.”
Grant/Scott: “Y’know, I think we’ll just cut you.”
Well considering he requested a trade… asspie is gone.
Byron’s hardass attitude and strange rotations are pretty annoying at times… Casspi played a lot better this season, but was suddenly deported to the doghouse… I’m also a bit scared about the future relationship between Byron and Dion…
I don’t know if there’s any interest, but if we’re not going to play him could we trade him (or include him in a larger trade)?
Mallory – Totally agree they should play him. Walton’s minutes are hard to watch. Dude hasn’t hit the rim in like a week. Casspi can’t be worse…. but I guess I am more skeptical about whether he will maintain his current percentages. I just don’t see how he can, given his career averages.
With regards to FA, I’ve heard grumblings like this: http://www.sportscity.com/cleveland-cavaliers-omri-casspi-looking-forward-to-free-agency/2012/12/03/
Paired with some tweets from beat writers.
I guess I should say we’ve all speculated with regards to the practice thing. Corrected.
This has been, by far, the most puzzling (non) story of the season. Everywhere I look for news on Omri Casspi’s DNPs there is nothing. I’ve emailed and tweeted the beat writers – no response. Honestly I haven’t heard the rumors. Do you have any links, Mallory?
Casspi should be playing – I will touch on this in my Player Development post coming up this week
Hot Sauce – I think one of the major reason I (and others) feel more confident in Casspi is that he’s actually hitting his threes this year. Although he hasn’t shot as many as most of the other guys on the roster, he’s actually leading the team in 3P%. Furthermore, like I said above, he’s actually played pretty decent D. I greatly disagree with you on your assessment that, given more playing time, Casspi’s play would fall. I actually think he’s a confidence player – a guy who needs to be given a role and allowed to grow into it… Read more »
I am trying to understand this Blog’s view of Casspi. Last year the view seemed to be that he was terrible (on both ends of the floor) and should not see the floor. This year he has played a total of 19 games at 13 minutes per game, had a bit of hot streak shooting, and now he is back in favor. If he plays more minutes, his shooting numbers are going to come down a lot. Which means you would really have to believe he is an impact guy on other dimensions to want to play him. Looking broadly… Read more »
Yes Of course. Hate how Scott MUST have a token ployer in the doghouse. His mentality on this doesn’t help the CAVS at all.
So what if players say something stupid. THey all do in the NBA one time or another. You have to get over it and move on. 1 month hard time in Scott’s doghouse should be enough served time.