Maccabi Tel Aviv close to Omri Casspi

Omri Casspi is close to returning to Maccabi Tel Aviv during the NBA lockout. The Israeli forward is negotiating with his former team for a one-year with NBA out and could be announced soon by Maccabi Tel Aviv.

"If I go back to Europe, I am going to play just for Maccabi Tel Aviv" said Casspi. "I hope to be announced by the team in the next days" said Casspi who should gain around $40.000 per month.

"We are in talks with him since weeks. We have to discuss a couple of details and then the deal will be finalized" said David Federman, president of the team.

Casspi is the first Israeli player to be in the NBA and has spent two years with Sacramento Kings averaging 9.5ppg and 4.4rpg in 148 games. Before the lockout, he was traded to Cleveland Cavaliers.