Unless there is a deal already greased and ready to go to S&T Hickson to the Nyets, I still don't think we should tie up our cap space on him. Let him walk and negotiate his best deal on the open market.
Yep, he'd be a GREAT fit on OKC. Perkins flat out sucks. He has a PER of 9.4 and is averaging 4.6 PPG and 5.9 RPG. Hickson's numbers are PER = 20.3, 12.9 PPG, 10.4 RPG. Every second Perkins is on the court, OKC is playing 4-on-5 on offense, and while his defense is better than Hickson's he's not as good as he once was. Hard to believe he's only 28. When I watch him play, he moves like a guy who's 48. Hell, he's being outplayed by Hasheem Thabeet! Perkins will pout if he doesn't get to start. So, start him, but reduce his minutes to 18 - 20 MPG and let Hickson get 28 - 30 minutes backing up both front court positions. Ibaka is one of the best help defenders in the league. That would help compensate for Hickson's sub-par defense. And when he plays alongside Perkins, he would be guarding power forwards, not centers. It would also give Scott Brooks the option of doing offensive/defensive substitutions late in the game. This is a great option to have in close games during the playoffs. Perkins in for defense, Hickson in for offense. It wouldn't guarantee OKC a championship, but I think it would definitely improve their odds. Which is exactly why I hope it doesn't happen - ever. BNN
Woulda been nice if we coulda done Hickson for Lamb. But the window is closed. IMO OKC is going to be an "also ran" again this season.
Also ran again? They made the NBA Finals last season. There are 28 other teams out there that would love to be that kind of also ran. BNM
Yeah, but their expectations are Championship. They'll have a good run, but they'll pull up short - my opinion.
That was my point - Hickson would have improved their title chances. So, I'm glad we didn't give him to them. BNM
It would have certainly improved them - we agree there. But I still would have aided in their title hopes if we were getting Lamb in return. We're at least a few years out from even thinking about Championships - so aiding OKC in the short-term isn't really hurting us any.
For me, it's a matter of principal. I hate the way Clay Bennett and Aubrey MccLendon lied and stole the Sonics from Seattle. So, I don't want to see them rewarded by winning a title - and I certainly don't want my Blazers to do anything to help them. BNM
Oh just admit it; you still deep down want Kevin Pritchard to be right... "One will win scoring titles..."
I'll tell you people who wouldn't want this beast on the boards, has a nice scoring touch from outside and inside, and is a regular double-double guy. It's teams that can see right though it that's who. I'm still not sold of JJ.
Hickson had pretty much made it known he would veto most trades. That made it almost impossible to work in good faith on a deal with a team that he wouldn't go to, anyhow.
I guess that's kind of what I meant, if we thought there was a high probability of such a trade (wink, wink). At the same time, if there is a low probability of upgrading from Hickson in free agency, then I guess we keep him for another season until a nice deal comes along. Olshey gets paid to know these things. He seems to be pretty well connected in the league.
