Hickson's defense sucks

We won't be able to get Hickson again for $4 million per year. His market value is much higher than that based on his play this season. He's one of only nine guys averaging a double-double.

BNM

 

I think this is why many think keeping him is pretty impossible.

 

Is that what you really think?

Stotts clearly uses Babbit for offense and Hickson for defense.

I'm not the biggest Hickson supporter here, but to say Babbit is a better defender seems more like Hickson hate.

 

I know this. Nice to meet you, my name is choir

 

Do you have the game on tape?

Listen and the Mikes say the same thing. Babbitt came in and cleaned up Hickson's poor rotations on the P&R

 

I don't give a shit what anyone says. Babbitt is worse than Hickson on the defensive end. And the only reason why he is in the game is to stretch the defense because of his outside shot, not his offense or defense.

 

But, if we resign him, he won't be our back-up PF/C immediately. He will continue to start until Meyers Leonard is ready to assume the starting role a year or to down the road. You guys have seen Meyers Leonard play haven't you? I love the kid's energy, attitude and potential (based on his size and athleticism), but I don't know if I've ever seen anyone less ready to be an NBA starter. The kid is RAW, very, very RAW. He needs time to develop, a LOT of time.

Unless we miss the play-offs and get lucky in the lottery, we're not going to get a better big man than Hickson for less money. And, even if we do get lucky in the lottery, we'd probably end up with a young kid that's no more ready to start than Meyers Leonard.

For all those on this board who want to dump Hickson, I have yet to see anyone offer an example of a better big man we could get for less money. Be real folks, we aren't getting Dwight Howard no matter how much cap space we have. Portland just isn't a mecca for attracting top tier free agents. We couldn't even get Roy Fucking Hibbert to come here. What practical options are there that would be better than J.J. Hickson, either short term or long term?

Pay the man his $8 - $9 million and be happy. Use the rest of the cap space and our 1st round pick to strengthen our anemic bench. Continue to develop Meyers Leonard and move him into the starting line-up when he's ready. At that point, Hickson becomes the perfect 6th man backing up both front court positions.

Due to Hickson's ability to veto any trade, and forfeit his Bird Rights if he does, there's no way were moving him before the trade line. So, stop fantasizing about it happening. Accept what we have and embrace it. Hickson is here for the rest of the season, and hopefully beyond.

BNM

 

You seem to use Stott's decision making about Leonard's playing time to prove your point about the effectiveness of him. Doesn't the same hold true for how Stotts uses Babbit and and Leonard. In the 4th quater he puts Hickson in for defesive stops and Babbit in for offenseive possessions.

I was at the game so don't know what Mike and Mike said, but just to be clear, you think Babbit is a better defender than Hickson?

 

There were many people on this board saying Blazers should not match for Batum because he would be overpaid and not worth it . . .

 

I agree with you BNM.

I was hoping for the resign, then with picks or retention of maybe E will will put us over cap. Then we will have Max MLE (5-6 million) to offer JJ Reddick.

 

Agree with all of this. People know it but it is like they forget that he is a PF playing out of position against Centers. Of course he would be better playing his natural position against other PFs instead.

I would keep Hickson up to 7.5 MIL (probably not a penny over though). He might not only be your premier backup PF but he could also be the backup Center in limited minutes if for some reason you either dealt Leonard for a Center or had to play Leonard as the only Center on the roster.

 

Exactly. Many more then will admit it now too. It wasn't here but I will admit that the initial shock of the number had me saying the same thing on Olive. I came around before he ultimately signed though.

 

I think both are horrible, but I do think Babbitt is a better team defender, yes

He did not put Hickson in for defense. He put him in for rebounding

 

I admitted it!

 

He is not much better at PF

 

If he was to play against other team's bench players wouldn't be an advantage us?

 

Really the only one people mention is Pekovic but that isn't no guarantee. First we would have to renounce Hickson to even think about it and then we would have to offer MAX to even tempt the Timberpuppies not to match. Then after all that, guess what? They can match.

 

For the record I disagree with this.

Small sample size but he did very well as our starting PF last season at the end of the year with LMA out.

 

No idea? One would think so

 

He had a lower PER last year in Portland at PF than he does this year at C, and his PER against numbers were higher last year at PF as well. Sample size and all that, but those are the numbers