Cavs: The Blog, a blog about the Cavs, seeks to squelch early yells in Cleveland that are complaining about June's Omri Casspi-J.J. Hickson trade by pointing out how awful J.J. Hickson has been, not just this season, but basically for his entire NBA career. So while Casspi has been bad as Cleveland's starting small forward, Hickson has been just as bad if not worse.
If neither player develops this season, it looks like the trade would have been a wash ... if not for the protected draft pick that the Kings sent back to Cleveland. That pick will stay with the Kings in 2012 unless they make the playoffs, and is protected in the top 13 in 2013, top 12 in 2014 and top 10 from 2015 through 2017. If the Kings have a top-10 pick through 2017, it becomes a second-round pick. Also, the Kings will have not made the playoffs in 11 seasons. At some point, it will likely be handed over somewhere between No. 10 and 20.
That's the potential rain cloud hanging over this deal. The Kings bet that Hickson would be productive enough to better than Casspi plus a mid-first round pick. Hickson looks like a replacement level player compared to the Kings' two other healthy bigs. He could turn it around under Keith Smart and come into his own while Chuck Hayes heals, but would anyone bet on that happening at this point? Has anyone seen any glimpses of greatness lurking within?
There's time -- not a ton, as Hickson's a restricted free agent in July -- but right now this looks like a(nother) bad bet for Geoff Petrie.
0 recs | 43 comments
Who is this JJ Hickson you speak of?
49er16 - January 11, 2012
I thpught Hickson would show a lot more then he has
Having said that, I think he would be a great pick and roll player with a guard that actually knew how to run one. I like the way he attacks the boards, but he, like JT and Hayes, are 3rd bigs on good teams.
elSAVinator - January 11, 2012
Casspi has been just abysmal this year.
Looking at the numbers so far, I am more than satisfied with this trade.
Ichiban - January 11, 2012
Ouch 29% on 3's
It must be terrible to have a SF that shoots like that!
elSAVinator - January 11, 2012
oh you.
Shizzo - January 11, 2012
I want to rec this and flag it at the same time
rpmonkey - January 11, 2012
I think the worst part of this trade
Is tying up the first round pick as a useable asset for future trades.
So no, I’m not really satisfied. Hope Hickson figures it out…
otis29 - January 11, 2012
i definitely expected more from Hickson...
PLEASE PUT THOMPSON OVER HIM IN THE ROTATION. every time Thompson comes in he plays decent and has earned the spot. Let Hickson fight for the spot back because he def hasnt earned a starting role here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wake up Smart
yaboyrafa - January 11, 2012
To me, the problem with starting JT over JJ...
Is that JT can’t cover face-up Power Forwards to save his life. JJ isn’t the best defender around, but he at least has the foot speed to stay with the quicker Power Forwards in the league.
Donovan Jeska - January 12, 2012
The benefit, obviously...
Being that we’ll be starting two absolutely massive guys that can beast on the boards and abuse people in the post.
Donovan Jeska - January 12, 2012
If it weren't for that space between JJ's ears, I think he would have been a steal. Unfortunately most GMs likely knew this going into the offseason.
Although overrall I agree it’s not the great trade, it does have some risk, and even though I am actually a huge fan of keeping draft picks and stockpiling them as assets, I just want to say this: the potential of mid first round picks often in reality will no way, shape, or form be worth what we as obsessed fans think it one day could have been.
wallywagon11 - January 11, 2012
ug
*it’s not that great of a trade
wallywagon11 - January 11, 2012
and a whole punch of other errors
wallywagon11 - January 11, 2012
mmmm....Punch
Sacto_J - January 11, 2012
Well said
Shizzo - January 11, 2012
So far JJ sucks balls
Bring back Brockman and put JJ as our 5th big. I think he is the type that needs someone to set him up for all his points and allows him to be a weak side defender. The Suns and Nash would have been good for him, but with the way the Kings are built, I think that JT is a much better fit.
SharkKings49 - January 11, 2012
exactly
have u ever seen one of his highlight videos on youtube? you would think its an Lebron assist video. he needs to be set up.
yaboyrafa - January 11, 2012
Well that pick is protected until 2017
Might be another 2-3 years before the Kings are in the playoffs.
bignerd - January 11, 2012
That should help get through the season
From now until the lotto we can root for Anthony Davis. After we get screwed in the lotto, we can all debate is the system is rigged or if the Kings just have bad luck.
SharkKings49 - January 11, 2012
I wonder if Portland would trade Batum for JJ
jumpboi - January 11, 2012
in our wet dreams
Shizzo - January 11, 2012
Batum wants starter minutes, but hes playing behind Wallace right now
and JJ would fit in better with them
jumpboi - January 11, 2012
nah , why not donte greene instead.
Beer_man - January 11, 2012
besides i think portand may sign batum long term, wallace is going to want a big contract.
Beer_man - January 11, 2012
JJ is our most athletic player
and I personally like the trade (though not thrilled with losing a pick, whenever that may actually happen.) I think he definitely helps our rebounding #‘s, which would be abysmal WITH Chuck in the lineup, never mind without. I think JJ’s a solid rotation guy who just needs some time to figure out the system (you know, kinda like everyone else on the roster at this point.)
Honestly, to pinpoint JJ as a disappointment is kinda putting the cart before the horse as far as the Kings are concerned and I seriously don’t miss Omri one bit…
Sacto_J - January 11, 2012
I agree JJ gives us some size and
some athleticism. lets be honest The Chuck wagon and DMC are glued to the floor. Dont get me wrong Chuck has shown that he can keep bigs out of the paint he just struggles on the rebounding. I think I am frustrated with JJ in his FT attempts he seems to really struggle at the line. If he got better at the FT’s he would be pretty solid in my opinion. I like the trade JJ for Omri
1damutt - January 11, 2012
1 more thing
I also like the fact that he is willing to get after it a bit
1damutt - January 11, 2012
Agree with this...
Also will add that Hickson will get better as our ball movement gets better. He more than anyone needs open looks to get himself going early on (not a post up fadeaway!!)
Wonderchild - January 11, 2012
For the first time as a Kings fan ever...
…I am totally fine with firing Petrie.
He just doesn’t seem to have it anymore. There’s a whole slough of things over the past few years that Im ight point to, but the backbreaker is the Salmons trade, which to me is indefensible. Move DOWN in the draft AND take on huge salary for a mediocre (at best) player? Didn’t make sense then and it doesn’t now.
PhutureKings - January 11, 2012
I think the trade down part
should concern people more when it comes to scouting because to me it’s a sign that the team and it’s basketball people did not see Knight or Kemba as necessarily being better than Jimmer. Considering all the talk we heard about how unimpressed they were with Knight, I think it’s fairly safe to say they did not have much love for Knight. Now if Jimmer shines, nevermind but if not … well, yeah.
wallywagon11 - January 11, 2012
Or maybe the Maloofs demanded Jimmer for the sales
I don’t think too many people saw Knight falling as far as he did. During the draft, I felt our choices were Jimmer or Walker. I didn’t have a problem with Jimmer over Walker, but looking back at the draft, I wish we had our #7 and picked up Knight. We may have been stuck with Beno, but its better than the fish.
My other thought is that the Maloofs demanded to drop in the draft to save money on Jimmers rookie contract. I have no support to back this up except that the Maloofs are cheap.
SharkKings49 - January 12, 2012
Word out of here was pretty strong that the Kings weren't terribly impressed with Knight
that was in the rumor mill and even Jerry hinted at it before and after the draft
wallywagon11 - January 12, 2012
personally I was surprised when hearing about it
given Knight was known as such a stud prospect out of high school and was a really smart bright student and hard worker
wallywagon11 - January 12, 2012
I think JJ has enough time and talent to turn this thing around
But honestly, more than anyone on our team, he needs a pass-first player to be on the floor. When he is in the game, there are times where he beats the big down the floor and gets rewarded with (Insert player’s name) holding on to the ball and pounding it into oblivion. There are also times where he gets out and runs the break with a wing to be rewarded with (Insert player’s name) going coast to coast without the thought of a pass.
JJ does settle for a lot of perimeter shots, but man it would be tough to continue to want to run the floor and score when no one really sees you. Hopefully Smart can do something to get this team to share the ball a bit more
mdotbrown - January 11, 2012
meh...I don't mind this trade
but Salmons is another matter altogether
polotown - January 11, 2012
I didn't think much of the trade at the time
I thought it was just PW running another strong willed young player out of town. And, while JJ has a lot to learn on both ends of the court, so did JT a couple of years ago.
Last season, JJ was another young player that had to step up and play out of position for his team. He did it well. For right now, all he needs to do is work on his defense, and rely on his teammates to get him the ball where he can score. Of course, that works the same for every player on this team.
HighTops - January 11, 2012
Maybe I'm Overreacting
But I fire Petrie. Then again, I would have to rely on the good judgement of the brothers Maloof to hire a superior replacement. So, never mind…
nohops - January 11, 2012
What good has Petrie done lately? It seems like all he does is push the timetable back for the team's development.
What was the purpose of acquiring Salmons and Outlaw? Or tying up that first round pick? At this point, would anyone be upset if Cisco started over Salmons? Cisco can provide excellent defense and doesn’t have an itch to pound the ball into the ground.
Sactown_Loyalty19 - January 12, 2012
I don't see why people are saying that JJ is performing so poorly--
—When everyone on our team is highly underperforming.
Donovan Jeska - January 12, 2012
Hmmm
Is anyone on the Kings playing ‘well’ right now? Anyone?
Although I’m as tired as everyone else with the whole “let’s give it some time” optimism
- I really think we need to give it another 7 games or so.
He’s been, ummm . . . . athletic! :-)
lietothegirls - January 12, 2012
DeMarcus Cousins
He is easily surpassing my expectations for him at this point of his second season. I certainly did not envision him averaging a double double with almost 2 blocks a game and a PER of over 22 (5th among power forwards and 5th among centers).
section214 - January 12, 2012
Tyreke Evans might not be playing as well as some people want him to
But he’s also been playing pretty damn well ever since Smart took over.
Aykis16 - January 12, 2012
I'll never get tired of it
raiderking21 - January 12, 2012
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