INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Omri Casspi is not exactly lighting it up for the Cleveland Cavaliers, but you can say this with a certain degree of confidence: Casspi is playing better than J.J. Hickson.
You remember Hickson, don't you?
He's the 6-foot-9 power forward who spent the first three years of his NBA career in Cleveland. He was considered young and athletic with a huge upside — and someone who occasionally frustrated coaches and teammates alike.
"J.J. could be great if he ever finally gets it," were words often spoken inside the locker room.
The Cavs finally gave up on him in July, when Hickson was traded to Sacramento for Casspi (and a conditional first-round draft pick).
Casspi was solid during his first two seasons in Sacramento, but has struggled mightily in Cleveland. He has appeared unsure of himself and been shaky on the court. Not long ago, he admitted he's thinking too much instead of just playing — and it shows.
Too often, Casspi wears the confused look of a man who has been standing in the rain for hours, only to learn he's at the wrong bus stop.
But again, as much as Casspi has struggled with the Cavs, Hickson has been every bit as bad with the Kings. And maybe even worse.
Entering the Cavaliers' game Sunday against Sacramento at Quicken Loans Arena, Hickson was coming off the bench and averaging a mere 5.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. His scoring is at its lowest since his rookie year, and his playing time has been sporadic.
Bad news for Hickson, who can become a restricted free agent at the end of the season. And bad news for the Kings, who were hoping Hickson would make a splash in the frontcourt alongside talented center DeMarcus Cousins.
Instead, Hickson is coming off the bench at power forward behind Jason Thompson.
"He's been nothing like they hoped when they made the deal," one Western Conference GM said of Hickson. "If the Kings knew it would be like this, they never would have made the deal. The Cavs probably still would, but the Kings sure wouldn't. They'd like to have that one back."
Although Hickson is far from a bad guy, he sometimes butted heads with Cavs coach Byron Scott during the train wreck that was the Cavs' 2010-11 season. Not in a nasty way, but in a way that was enough to irritate the man in charge. That's never a good thing.
Scott said he didn't have a problem with Hickson. "Toward the latter part of the season, our relationship was pretty good," Scott said.
Still, Scott thinks the trade for Casspi has worked out in the Cavs' favor.
"In a lot of situations like this, when you get a new player and he's in a new system, sometimes it takes six months to a year before he finally adjusts," Scott said. "I think that's still where Omri is with us."
The Cavs also feel Casspi offers them stability at small forward, and they are content with how he's playing (7.8 points, 22.8 minutes per game). Not thrilled mind you. But, yes, they're content. That's because they are willing to be patient with him, hoping that someday he turns the corner.
"Plus, he's a kid who just wants to work hard and just wants to get better," Scott said. "So from our standpoint, (the trade) worked out well. And like I said when we made the trade, we wish J.J. all the best."
Bottom line: Casspi may not be the answer at small forward for the Cavs long term. He may not make fans very happy today. But he's been a better fit with this unit than Hickson would be, and right now, that's all that really matters.
Cavaliers notes
• The Cavs feel that, everything else being equal, the conditional draft pick tips the Hickson-Casspi trade in their favor. Here is the deal with the pick: It's lottery-protected this year, then protected in 2013 (1-13), in 2014 (1-12) and 2015 and '16 (1-10). In 2017, it becomes a second-rounder.
• Basically, the Kings would have to stink for a stretch that would place them in NBA infamy for the pick not to turn into a first-rounder for the Cavs. It's possible the Kings could be so bad for so long, but it sure seems unlikely.
• Casspi said "I don't know" when asked how he feels the trade has worked out and that conclusions should be reserved for the end of the season. "I think both of us are trying to find our way with our new teams," he said.
• Shooting guard Anthony Parker (back) is out for the Cavs for Sunday's game. Scott said Parker may not return until after the All-Star break next weekend. "He got some shooting in (at practice) and is doing some court work, but I still think he's still a little ways away," Scott said.
• Meanwhile, guard Daniel Gibson (ankle) is questionable. Center Semih Erden (wrist) is expected to play, and start.
