Batum or Hickson

[Natebishop3]

If you could only keep one, which would you keep?

Right now I might actually lean towards Hickson. I wonder if we could do a sign and trade with Batum or we could only afford to keep one and still have a max contract to offer to someone like Deron Williams.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Hickson. Swing players with some of batums skillset are easier to find. Batum wants more money than he is worth too. Who knows what hickson wants, but id be happy to give him 5 to 6 per year.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I really like what Hickson has done so far, but part of me can't shake the feeling that he's busting his ass for his next contract ... That's a tough question, especially since we don't know how realistic getting Deron actually is.

 

[BBert]

I really like what Hickson has done so far, but part of me can't shake the feeling that he's busting his ass for his next contract ...

That's funny, all of me thinks he's busting his ass for his next contract. I'm willing to make the bet he continues to play well once we give it to him, though. I don't think the bidding war will be too much, IOW one half a shortened season shouldn't change a lot of opinions about him.

 

[illmatic99]

Nic. More potential, and little fear that he's just playing well for a contract unlike Hickson. And considering the lack of quality wings (as well as the plethora of good PFs) around the league, we have to hold onto the good ones.

 

[Natebishop3]

I guess a better question would be:

Is it worth the pipe dream of Deron Williams to give up on either Hickson or Batum?

 

[magnifier661]

I would choose hickson because he's probably a 5-6 mil per player, while Batum will probably ask and get offers of 9-10 mil per. I still think we could get both and d will too. Hell we could keep Flynn, Babbitt, Aldridge, Matthews, e will, hickson, pryzbilla and Batum; while offering max to d will.

 

[illmatic99]

I guess some of you haven't seen the posts on Sac forums about how bad Hickson was with the Kings. They have the same vitriol for him as we do for Felton.

I watched JJ extensively in CLE with Bron, and he looked to be a great role player, and nothing more. He absolutely tanked it in Sac once he realized he had competition at his position. He's making the most of his opportunity here, but how much of that effort is just because he wants $$$? And what's the guarantee that he will still be as good after he gets his?

 

[magnifier661]

I guess some of you haven't seen the posts on Sac forums about how bad Hickson was with the Kings. They have the same vitriol for him as we do for Felton.

I watched JJ extensively in CLE with Bron, and he looked to be a great role player, and nothing more. He absolutely tanked it in Sac once he realized he had competition at his position. He's making the most of his opportunity here, but how much of that effort is just because he wants $$$? And what's the guarantee that he will still be as good after he gets his?

The reason I disagree is why wasn't he busting his ass in sac town? I mean that was his money year too. I think he was a product of a bad system, just like Felton was in Portland. Hell look at the Knicks once d antoni left.

Sometimes certain players need to be in a good system. Pairing him with a sharing Aldridge, instead of teams filled with ball hogs will help your game.

 

[Natebishop3]

I guess some of you haven't seen the posts on Sac forums about how bad Hickson was with the Kings. They have the same vitriol for him as we do for Felton.

I watched JJ extensively in CLE with Bron, and he looked to be a great role player, and nothing more. He absolutely tanked it in Sac once he realized he had competition at his position. He's making the most of his opportunity here, but how much of that effort is just because he wants $$$? And what's the guarantee that he will still be as good after he gets his?

The guy is still really young and it's not like people are talking about offering him big money. He can't afford to get a new deal and then completely suck balls. We're not talking about Darius Miles here.

 

[THE HCP]

I got one name for you guys..... THEO RATLIFF!

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I really like what Hickson has been doing, and Batum has frustrated me. But in terms of talent, Batum has oodles more. And the knock on Hickson has always been that he plays no defense, so I want a larger sample size in games that actually matter.

 

[craigehlo]

I'll go with the player who takes it to rack and doesn't just shoot 3's. Hickson.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I got one name for you guys..... THEO RATLIFF!

I'm guessing this is a comment about the dangers of falling in love with a guy that we picked up for peanuts in a tiny stretch of games? (Because Ratliff and Hickson have totally different games.)

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Right now I might actually lean towards Hickson.

Hickson. Swing players with some of batums skillset are easier to find.

I would choose hickson

I'll go with the player who takes it to rack and doesn't just shoot 3's. Hickson.

HICKSANITY!!!

 

[magnifier661]

I really like what Hickson has been doing, and Batum has frustrated me. But in terms of talent, Batum has oodles more. And the knock on Hickson has always been that he plays no defense, so I want a larger sample size in games that actually matter.

You know I read that knock as well, but watching the games in PDX so far; he's been playing damn good D. The one thing that impresses me the most is his ability to score in the post and rebound. I haven't been bitching about teams winning the boards like I have in the past. Most of that is because Hickson is boxing out well and rebounding the ball with efficiency.

Also, Hickson's offensive game is giving Aldridge some room. Teams can't lag off of Pryzbilla, Thomas or Camby now; which is helping Aldridge have better options in the paint.

 

[magnifier661]

I got one name for you guys..... THEO RATLIFF!

Theo was an awesome Center during his early years; which ironically is Hickson. So if you say Hickson is like Theo in terms of talent; then I am ecstatic!

 

[Natebishop3]

I got one name for you guys..... THEO RATLIFF!

DAN DICKAU!

 

[THE HCP]

No, I'm saying be careful throwing a ton of money at a player after he plays 10 good games for us........

 

[magnifier661]

No, I'm saying be careful throwing a ton of money at a player after he plays 10 good games for us........

I doubt we toss tons of money at Hickson. We will let the market dictate his value. I'm thinking 5-7 mil at most.

 

[craigehlo]

No, I'm saying be careful throwing a ton of money at a player after he plays 10 good games for us........

Hickson played quite a few good games for the Cavs in his career. He's a proven commodity that fills a huge need on this team (scoring at PF spot with LMA on the bench). I don't think he'll command a huge paycheck in the off season either.

 

[e_blazer]

I want them both, so I'm wondering what's happening with the buyout on Shawne Williams's contract. We don't need that guy sucking up $3 M in cap space.

 

[Natebishop3]

I want them both, so I'm wondering what's happening with the buyout on Shawne Williams's contract. We don't need that guy sucking up $3 M in cap space.

He comes off the books this summer, doesn't he?

 

[illmatic99]

He can opt in for next year. I thought Chad said he was working on a buyout (with the presumption that he would waive his player option for next season).

 

[e_blazer]

Storyteller lists Williams as having a player option for next season at $3,125,000. Hopefully, the buyout comes off without a hitch.

 

[illmatic99]

I really like what Hickson has been doing, and Batum has frustrated me. But in terms of talent, Batum has oodles more.

Did you hear what Snapper was saying about Nic last night? About how he has this talent but doesn't really think the team wants him to have a bigger role (or something of the sort). If Nic thinks that, it's absolutely false. The organization pretty much gave him full reign after the trades at the deadline, and even LA endorsed him as the #2. It's so freakin frustrating because when he does try to be aggressive, he's unstoppable.

[video=youtube;bwdWQ30j3xU]

 

[BBert]

When Batum shoots immediately without thinking first, he is money. When he hesitates, not so much. Good riddance Nate. I think Snapper was right on. It's going to take a while for Nico to fully embrace his new role, and he needs others to let him know what that role is. I prefer Batum's attitude and approach to team basketball to Crawford's.

 

[PapaG]

I got one name for you guys..... THEO RATLIFF!

One more ... DARIUS MILES!

 

[PapaG]

Although I'll add, this organization is so inept, and repeatedly makes the same blunders, that I won't be surprised if they give Hickson 4 years/$24 million or so as soon as the FA period begins.

It's a tough call, but re-signing J.J. Hickson doesn't put the team one step closer to being a title contender, at least in terms of top shelf talent. I think you have to make the big move and get LMA another superstar, with that being the primary focus, re-sign Batum, and the nice thing about this is that the Blazers will know the lottery draft pick/picks well in advance. If money is left over for Hickson, great, but if his cap hold at all makes the true rebuild goal of getting better immediately more difficult, you have to cut ties with him.

He's part of my secondary plan at this point, at least if I was the GM and the plan to get another All-NBA player who compliments LMA doesn't look likely. B-Roy had some great thoughts on this in another thread, and how Hickson could be rescinded if need be to clear cap space by eliminating his cap hold.

Kudos to B-Roy for adding value without writing a book trying to do so!

 

[BlayZa]

i dont really care who it is as long as they bring it every night, nic has been a disappointment so far vs. what his apparent potential is - although, that could be the thing.... maybe it was never as high as we had hoped it to be - wouldnt be anything new to us....