My boy hickson

[Sinobas]

I liked Hickson too, he's a capable starter, and a very good backup 4. But they aquired T-Rob, a cheaper contract, so they could spend their money elsewhere on the bench, like Mo/Wright.

But I'd rather have hickson coming off the bench that T-Rob, Freeland or Leonard, and Williams/Wright haven't really been great.

 

[BBert]

I like JJ, but the blazers made the right decision to let JJ walk and pursue a starting center. It wasn't possible to keep JJ, and at the same time add Lopez. The blazers now have one of the most well balanced starting units in the league. Good luck to JJ.

This. JJ is a backup. We weren't able to give him what he wanted while upgrading our starting unit. He did what was best for him, and so did the Blazers.

 

[BlazerBeav]

Again...same as with Aldridge...why is it either/or? Why do you create a comparison between a starter and a substitute?

It's an either/or because of the salary cap. We couldn't have kept Hickson while acquiring the players that we did. Would JJ be nice to have at the backup four? Sure. Is have Lopez as the starting center better than having JJ as the starting center? Not sure anyone can argue that with a straight face. The results for this season speak as to why this was a great move.

BTW, if the refs had bothered calling over the back he'd have fouled out of that fourth quarter.

 

[maxiep]

Echoing the other posts in here, our choice wasn't Hickson or Robinson. In reality, it was Hickson or Lopez.

Hickson wanted to start, wanted to be paid as a starter and that wasn't going to happen here. I like him, I rooted for him as a Blazer and I'll continue to root for him (as long as he isn't playing the Blazers). That being said, we replaced exactly one starter from last year to this year, and it's worked out just great for us. Hickson was paid and it worked out great for him.

Win-win.

 

[mook]

Looked it up and he's signed to $5m/year for three years. That's a pretty nice contract for a quality backup big. Seems like Denver ought to trade him for young guys if they can, especially with Faried already basically being the same player.

For the Blazers I'd rather stick with Thomas Robinson, though. Better defense and more upside. If you look at the stats of both guys in their second seasons, they really aren't that different. Robinson rebounds at a much higher level, but Hickson was a better scorer.

Hickson, however, made his way into the NBA playing on shitty-to-mediocre Cleveland, Sactown and Portland teams, and his stat mongering and utter disregard for defense kind of reflect that. I think the way Stotts is managing Robinson's minutes is the right way to try to mold a young big.

 

[1honestfan]

Wow. I am a little surprised.

JJ Hickson in fact has been playing the center position and it's completely and utterly out of position for him. He should be playing at the PF spot. I really don't understand it when people bash him on his defense when he clearly is out of position. At the end of the day Hickson brings more to his team than he gives up and for 1.6 million more take him over Robinson. I am so tired of hearing terms like "Potential" and "Upside" with this organization because it's been GREATLY over used. I would give my left arm to get rid of that excuse to hear terms like "We brought him on board because we believe he helps us win TODAY" or "RIGHT NOW he makes this team better". To me and clearly IMO, when the team uses catch phrases like "Potential" and "Upside" it's an excuse as why they can't win today.

With that said, "RIGHT NOW" Hickson would give the blazers the better opportunity to win compared to Robinson.

I am not blasting anyone here but my-god, can we please start to look at how to improve the team right now and today versus 4-5 years down the road considering we haven't won a playoff series in 14 years?

Thomas Robinson - Potential
Will Barton - Potential
Nic Batum - Potential
Victor Claver - Potential
Allen Crabbe - Potential
Joel Freeland - Potential
Meyers Leonard - Potential
Cj McCollum - Potential

Making deep runs in the playoffs and winning championships in the NBA is about acquiring veterans and bringing them in off the bench.

 

[e_blazer]

RIGHT NOW, the Blazers can't trade for Hickson since the deadline's passed, and RIGHT NOW, the Blazers can't sign him since he's under contract with another team and they don't have cap space.

A conversation for next summer, perhaps?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

My boy hickson

Health tip, never call a black man, boy. Especially someone the size of Hickson.

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

1honestfan

Can you please address the fact that keeping Hickson would have meant no Lopez?

 

[Pinwheel1]

Wow. I am a little surprised.

I don't think you would be all that surprised if you were here last year as we discussed JJ not stop for 12 months. More specifically how we broke down the salary cap rules in detail in order to find a way to either sign a true center or absorb an existing contract. Bottom line if I remember correctly, the Cap Hold on JJ was too much to allow us any flexibility. We would not have Robin if we held on to him.

Now JJ could have signed later as a free agent for less money but as I recall he and his agent thought he would get closer to 7-8 mil/year. He over valued himself. Most here wanted JJ as a back up PF. Again discussed for over a year. But at the time JJ did not see himself taking LMA's left over minutes. TRob fell into our lap. But that was after the fact. JJ was good as gone at that time.

 

[1honestfan]

I don't think you would be all that surprised if you were here last year as we discussed JJ not stop for 12 months. More specifically how we broke down the salary cap rules in detail in order to find a way to either sign a true center or absorb an existing contract. Bottom line if I remember correctly, the Cap Hold on JJ was too much to allow us any flexibility. We would not have Robin if we held on to him.

Now JJ could have signed later as a free agent for less money but as I recall he and his agent thought he would get closer to 7-8 mil/year. He over valued himself. Most here wanted JJ as a back up PF. Again discussed for over a year. But at the time JJ did not see himself taking LMA's left over minutes. TRob fell into our lap. But that was after the fact. JJ was good as gone at that time.

Back in 2012 Portland could have given Hickson a QO of 4.4 million and they choose not to. Had they done that, this whole issue would have been averted as he would have been under contract and no cap hold. At least that's how I understand it.

 

[1honestfan]

I don't think you would be all that surprised if you were here last year as we discussed JJ not stop for 12 months. More specifically how we broke down the salary cap rules in detail in order to find a way to either sign a true center or absorb an existing contract. Bottom line if I remember correctly, the Cap Hold on JJ was too much to allow us any flexibility. We would not have Robin if we held on to him.

Now JJ could have signed later as a free agent for less money but as I recall he and his agent thought he would get closer to 7-8 mil/year. He over valued himself. Most here wanted JJ as a back up PF. Again discussed for over a year. But at the time JJ did not see himself taking LMA's left over minutes. TRob fell into our lap. But that was after the fact. JJ was good as gone at that time.

Fair enough. I can't speak on those points as you stated, I wasn't here when you did.

 

[THE HCP]

It's as if somebody knew every opinion I've ever had on any topic...........created a user called 1honestfan ..........and had him come on here and toss around all these crap posts. Bro, this is a joke right? Am I being pinked?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

It's as if somebody knew every opinion I've ever had on any topic...........created a user called 1honestfan ..........and had him come on here and toss around all these crap posts. Bro, this is a joke right? Am I being pinked?

pinked?

 

[BBert]

It's as if somebody knew every opinion I've ever had on any topic...........created a user called 1honestfan ..........and had him come on here and toss around all these crap posts. Bro, this is a joke right? Am I being pinked?

Yes. You are being pinked. Much worse than being punked.

Maybe we all are.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

pinked?

Look up pink sock on urban dictionary.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Look up pink sock on urban dictionary.

Oh my god, that is horrible. Why is doing that to HCP?!?

 

[1honestfan]

It's as if somebody knew every opinion I've ever had on any topic...........created a user called 1honestfan ..........and had him come on here and toss around all these crap posts. Bro, this is a joke right? Am I being pinked?

I am sorry that you're being so sensitive.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Hate to burst anyone's bubble, but for everything Hickson gives you, he gives up more to the other team.

According to 82games.com Hickson's production is:

Own: 18.0
Opp: 20.4
Net -2.4

His net on court/off court is -7.7

His Simple Rating is -4.2

And, he's not a victim of the system he plays in. The other Denver bigs fair better

Timofey Mozgov:

Own: 17.8
Opp: 17.4
Net +0.4

His net on court/off court is +6.8

His Simple Rating is +2.5

Kenneth Faried:

Own: 19.8
Opp: 19.0
Net +0.8

His net on court/off court is -0.3

His Simple Rating is +0.5

Hickson brings great energy - at one end of the court and pretty much sleep walks at the other end. That's why Mozgov and Faried have better Net Production numbers. At least they try to play defense.

Would Hickson be a decent back up? Sure, decent but not great. Plus, he didn't seem to have good chemistry with LaMarcus Aldridge. So, I wasn't sorry to see him go. And by letting him walk, it freed up enough cap space to get Robin Lopez. We basically gave up a decent back up 4 and got an excellent starting 5. I'd do it again in a heart beat.

BNM

 

[THE HCP]

I am sorry that you're being so sensitive.

I just didn't think it was possible to not agree on ANYTHING with another human being. Just wondering if somebody set up a fake account just to mess with me.
Reading that bullshit about Crapzano and that washed up hack Jaynes just was the last straw!

 

[LameR]

Hate to burst anyone's bubble, but for everything Hickson gives you, he gives up more to the other team.

According to 82games.com Hickson's production is:

Own: 18.0
Opp: 20.4
Net -2.4

His net on court/off court is -7.7

His Simple Rating is -4.2

And, he's not a victim of the system he plays in. The other Denver bigs fair better

Timofey Mozgov:

Own: 17.8
Opp: 17.4
Net +0.4

His net on court/off court is +6.8

His Simple Rating is +2.5

Kenneth Faried:

Own: 19.8
Opp: 19.0
Net +0.8

His net on court/off court is -0.3

His Simple Rating is +0.5

Hickson brings great energy - at one end of the court and pretty much sleep walks at the other end. That's why Mozgov and Faried have better Net Production numbers. At least they try to play defense.

Would Hickson be a decent back up? Sure, decent but not great. Plus, he didn't seem to have good chemistry with LaMarcus Aldridge. So, I wasn't sorry to see him go. And by letting him walk, it freed up enough cap space to get Robin Lopez. We basically gave up a decent back up 4 and got an excellent starting 5. I'd do it again in a heart beat.

BNM

Annnnd thread. 1honestfan, any thoughts? Close it up guys, this one's done.

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

Back in 2012 Portland could have given Hickson a QO of 4.4 million and they choose not to. Had they done that, this whole issue would have been averted as he would have been under contract and no cap hold. At least that's how I understand it.

Because they needed to clear space to offer Hibbert.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Because they needed to clear space to offer Hibbert.

I knew there was a nice logical reason.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I wanted Blazers to sign Hickson, but haven't been disappointed with T-Rob.

I hear the arguments Blazers didn't have cap room. That summer NO didn't have cap room for Tyreke and made it work.. GS didn't ahve cap space to sign Iggy and they figured a way to get it done. there were other examples of teams making cap space to sign someone. I think good GMs can figure out ways to make it work . . . but good GMs also make smart moves and watching Hickson in Denver, maybe it was smart not to somehow sign Hickson for 5 mil/yr.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I wanted Blazers to sign Hickson, but haven't been disappointed with T-Rob.

I hear the arguments Blazers didn't have cap room. That summer NO didn't have cap room for Tyreke and made it work.. GS didn't ahve cap space to sign Iggy and they figured a way to get it done. there were other examples of teams making cap space to sign someone. I think good GMs can figure out ways to make it work . . . but good GMs also make smart moves and watching Hickson in Denver, maybe it was smart not to somehow sign Hickson for 5 mil/yr.

Ummm, yeah they made it "work" by GIVING us Robin Lopez. I like our GM's approach better. In this case, it's better to receive than to give.

BNM

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Ummm, yeah they made it "work" by GIVING us Robin Lopez. I like our GM's approach better. In this case, it's better to receive than to give.

BNM

OK. Point being that other teams didn't have cap space to go after players and they in fact got those players. I don't think saying there was" no cap space" automatically excludes the possibility as seems to be suggested here. If it is worth it to make the cap space to be able to sign Hickson is certainly debatable.

 

[oldmangrouch]

I have the feeling we will soon be having a similar discussion over Mo. Which is worse: lose him for nothing, or over-pay to keep him?

 

[Boob-No-More]

I have the feeling we will soon be having a similar discussion over Mo. Which is worse: lose him for nothing, or over-pay to keep him?

Like Hickson, it will depend on what else is available at a comparable salary.

In the summer of 2012 we declined giving Hickson a QO so we could go after Hibbert. Hickson was our Plan B (or maybe Plan C). We resigned him to a 1 year contract when it became obvious we couldn't get anyone else to be our starting center.

Last summer, we let him walk to free up the cap space to get Robin Lopez.

I think our management made the right decisions in both cases. I think they'll look around to see what else is available, and if they can't do better than Mo, with their available cap space they'll bring him back. If they can do better, he'll be gone.

BNM

 

[Further]

I was glad the Blazers didn't sign Hickson again. He seems nice, has tons of energy and rebounds like a monster, but I don't want to have a big, even off the bench that is so completely shitty on defense. A big without D is going to make the whole team worse. Hickson is like a condom with pinhole in it. The girls will like to see you're prepared, but no actual protection will leave you worse off.

 

[julius]

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