7/7/2013: Casspi will join the Houston Rockets

Omri Casspi (Wiki)

Basketball:
 Israel's first ever NBA player, Omri Casspi, will join the Houston Rockets. The 25 year-old forward spent the last 4 years in the the ranks of the Sacramento Kings and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Casspi's contract at the Rockets will last 2 years and will fetch him about 2.5 million dollars. At the Rockets Casspi will play alongside NBA stars Dwight Howard and James Harden. "Omri is happy and exited to go to Houston", Casspi's father Shimon said, "we are also very happy that he is going to a team like that, a team that he always wanted to go to".
   Casspi was not only "the first" but also "the only" Israeli NBA player until last week when Gal Mekel became the second Israeli in the NBA after agreeing terms with the Dallas Mavericks. Mekel who is now 25 years of age will play alongside NBA German star Dirk Nowitzki.

Tyrese Rice (nba.com)

Maccabi Tel Aviv have signed a point guard in Tyrese Rice. Rice signed a 2 year contract at Maccabi. The 26 year-old Virginia born player, played last year for Bayern Munich in Germany and had a college career at Boston College between 2005 and 2009.  

Maccabi Rishon LeZion have made their first signing of the off-season by adding point guard Dror Hajaj to their roster. Hajaj who spent the last 2 years at Ashdod, signed a 2 year deal at Rishon LeZion.

Yadin Zaris (sport5)

Football:
M.S Ashdod have agreed a deal with Belgian club Standard Liege that will see Israeli striker Yadin Zaris play at the Israeli club next season on a 1 year loan deal. 23 year old Zaris signed for Standard Liege from Maccabi Herzliya in 2012 but has not yet played a game for the Belgian side.