And really only marginal financial reason.  The only thing to be gained is Sterling could save whatever money Cassell agreed to take to go from his full salary, and then get a basically meaningless further set-off for whatever the Celtics paid him.

If Cassell took a buyout of zero dollars, it would be something to Sterling, I guess.  But would he since the C's can probably only give him the veteran's minimum?  And none of that really matters to the Clippers cap or tax situation since it doesn't functionally create more or less room this year or next than if he just stayed the rest of the year.

I think if Stoudamire lands there this week the talk would finally die out for good.

A Cassell buyout is an unmitigated disaster for the fans.

Bill Simmons started it, for purely selfish Celtic reasons.  It makes no sense at all, and it was broken down around here back before the Generic Clipper season started.

Although the trade scenario is still in the no brainer category--and your bold Houston suggestion is worth some GM phone calls for sure--, much more likely than the buyout is a possible extension with some sort of player/assistant coach agreement.  IMO there's still a small chance that Cassell will be around next year.

But blame Bill Simmons--and don't be surprised to see him go back to some kind of Cassell envy when he starts writing extensively about the NBA as the Patriots finish things up.