Here are some excerpts from Casspi's interview to “Israel 102 FM” radio (sorry for not professional translation):
When asked whether he is Sacramento Kings player as he was seen participating (as guest) in some Maccabi T-A training session.
Casspi answered: “It’s not official yet. We agreed about it on Jul 30 but I still have to pass physical”
About his role in the Sacramento team he only stated that he “talked several times with Kings’ GM which explained his goal is to build young strong team and it seems good time to return there now”
Summarizing previous seasons and outlook to the future Casspi says that “the first half of the season with Rockets was pretty good, and now I feel that I’m entering very important year in my career, I want to achieve major improvement this season and I really hope it will happen”
Asked if he can make requirements to the team after returning there with NBA experience (attention: this is interviewer wording, not Casspi’s...) he answered that “things depend on the coach and teammates. I think Sacramento is best option for me right now”.
Casspi states that he is now better player than “kid without bank account” he was several years ago, more complete player and can do much more things on the floor.
About possible return to Israel Casspi says that “Maccabi is the home”, and he would consider Maccabi’s proposal in the future but now “it’s still not time to come back to Israel”
Also Casspi spoke about David Blatt (Cavs’ coach, former Maccabi’s coach). He says that Blatt is great coach and certainly has chance to bring championships to Cavs, and while there’s some degree of mutual contempt between NBA and European basketball specialists David Blatt is well respected in US. But from personal point of view Casspi don’t see himself playing for Blatt in NBA.
The full interview is here :
http://one.co.il/Article/238789.html (hebrew)
Now… Several things.
First, those “physical” talks became a bit annoying (especially after Maccabi’s center “Sofo” Schortsanitis didn’t pass physical returning after summer…) but I do assume Casspi will sign with Kings in several days.
Second, ““kid without bank account” is kind of aggravation as Casspi was playing professionally since he was 17 years old, and I would not count much on those talks about “most important season” and “break-out”. Actually Omri says it every summer. Even Israeli fans like myself do not really believe he will break out and became NBA star or even just NBA starter.
Still Casspi can be very useful for Kings as reserve. He’s correct that there’s improvement in his game: he’s better ball handler than before (certainly not good… but better), his shot repertoire and selection improved and while he’s heavier and stronger that in first years in NBA he regained much of his athletic abilities (one of main reason he failed in the first year in Cavs was that while trying to became stronger Casspi somehow lost much of athletic abilities he had as rookie – but now he’s much more balanced on this account). So I do believe that Omri will be able to provide meaningful minutes in both SF and PF positions.