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Minnesota Timberwolves add free-agent swingman Omri Casspi for rest of season
Free-agent swingman Omri Casspi has come to terms on a rest-of-the-season contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves, according to league sources.
The Timberwolves entered Sunday's play sitting 4½ games out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference and have an immediate need for help on the wing after losing Nemanja Bjelica to a season-ending foot injury on top of Zach LaVine's season-ending knee tear in early February.
Casspi was acquired by New Orleans from Sacramento as part of the DeMarcus Cousins trade and had been earmarked for a significant role by the Pelicans, only to suffer a broken right thumb in his first game with his new team. The Pelicans waived Casspi immediately since he was initially expected to miss four to six weeks, but ESPN.com reported earlier this week that Casspi has been cleared to resume basketball activities ahead of schedule.
Sources told ESPN.com that Wolves coach and president Tom Thibodeau met with Casspi over dinner this weekend in New Orleans in advance of the Wolves' road game Sunday night against the Pelicans.
Before the game, Thibodeau declined to say much about the looming deal with Casspi beyond confirming to reporters that "we're talking to him."
When asked about his sit-down with Casspi in New Orleans, Thibodeau would only say: "It's possible we had a meeting."
But sources say Casspi is indeed scheduled to fly to Minneapolis with the Wolves on Sunday night after their game in New Orleans.
With the Wolves playing Sunday night, Casspi's deal is likely to be finalized Monday, sources said.
The Boston Celtics, Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Clippers are among the playoff teams that also expressed interest in Casspi since he became a free agent. The 28-year-old is the first Israeli to play in the NBA and figures to complement Wolves stars Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins given his ability to play both as a small forward and a small-ball power forward who can shoot from deep.
The Timberwolves entered Sunday's play sitting 4½ games out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference and have an immediate need for help on the wing after losing Nemanja Bjelica to a season-ending foot injury on top of Zach LaVine's season-ending knee tear in early February.
Casspi was acquired by New Orleans from Sacramento as part of the DeMarcus Cousins trade and had been earmarked for a significant role by the Pelicans, only to suffer a broken right thumb in his first game with his new team. The Pelicans waived Casspi immediately since he was initially expected to miss four to six weeks, but ESPN.com reported earlier this week that Casspi has been cleared to resume basketball activities ahead of schedule.
Sources told ESPN.com that Wolves coach and president Tom Thibodeau met with Casspi over dinner this weekend in New Orleans in advance of the Wolves' road game Sunday night against the Pelicans.
Before the game, Thibodeau declined to say much about the looming deal with Casspi beyond confirming to reporters that "we're talking to him."
When asked about his sit-down with Casspi in New Orleans, Thibodeau would only say: "It's possible we had a meeting."
But sources say Casspi is indeed scheduled to fly to Minneapolis with the Wolves on Sunday night after their game in New Orleans.
With the Wolves playing Sunday night, Casspi's deal is likely to be finalized Monday, sources said.
The Boston Celtics, Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Clippers are among the playoff teams that also expressed interest in Casspi since he became a free agent. The 28-year-old is the first Israeli to play in the NBA and figures to complement Wolves stars Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins given his ability to play both as a small forward and a small-ball power forward who can shoot from deep.