Kings deal Casspi for Cavs' Hickson

Omri Casspi was selected by Sacramento with the 23rd overall pick in 2009.

Cary Edmondson/US Presswire

The Kings have traded small forward Omri Casspi and a future first-round pick to the Cavaliers for forward J.J. Hickson.

The draft pick is lottery-protected next year, top-13 protected in 2013, top-12 protected in 2014 and top-10 protected from 2015-17. If the Cavs don't receive the pick by 2017, they will receive a second-round pick.

"I'm happy," said Casspi, who became the first Israeli player in the NBA after being taken 23rd overall by the Kings in 2009. "It's a great opportunity for me to play. [The Cavs] don't really have a '3'-man."

Casspi had made his frustrations known in recent months, saying publicly that he was hoping to play elsewhere after having an inconsistent role in Sacramento. The Kings, meanwhile, recently traded for small forward John Salmons and also have Donte Greene and Francisco Garcia at the position.

In Hickson, they will be filling a frontcourt need with the 6-foot-9, fourth-year pro who averaged 13.8 points and 8.7 rebounds last season. The move is even more necessary in light of the likely departure of center Samuel Dalembert. Sources close to Dalembert say he was disappointed when extension talks went nowhere with the Kings and he is now far more interested signing with a contender in free agency.

Frustrations aside, Casspi expressed appreciation for a Kings team that made his NBA dreams come true and sparked so much joy and support from the Jewish community.

"Sometimes things don't work out, but I'm grateful for the opportunity," Casspi said. "Coach [Paul] Westphal and [Kings basketball president] Geoff [Petrie] changed my life forever."

ESPN.com first reported the trade talks.