JJ Hickson (J.J. Hickson) of the NC State Wolfpack (Photo credit: Wikipedia)Four years after acquiring an extra first-round pick in hopes of acquiring him, the Charlotte Bobcats are taking a second look at former N.C. State big man J.J. Hickson.
Hickson’s agent, Andy Miller, confirmed in a brief email to the Observer that the Bobcats have expressed interest in his client. Hickson became an unrestricted free agent last week when the Portland Trail Blazers chose not to tender a $4.4 million qualifying offer.
Had the Blazers done so, Hickson would be a restricted free agent, giving Portland the right to match any offer and keep Hickson. Now he’s truly on the open market, and several suitors – notably the Golden State Warriors – are in pursuit.
Back in 2008, when Hickson turned pro after a single college season, the Bobcats made a deal with the Denver Nuggets for the 20th pick. The objective was to draft one of three big men: Georgetown’s Roy Hibbert, Hickson or French pro Alexis Ajinca. Hibbert went 17th and Hickson 19th. The Bobcats chose Ajinca 20th, and he was a bust.
Now the Bobcats are apparently revisiting Hickson as a free agent. It’s clear why they’d be interested: General manager Rich Cho has said the roster needs at least one more big man, and Hickson (6-foot-9 and 23 years old) is a true back-to-the-basket post scorer. None of the Bobcats’ current big men – Bismack Biyombo, Tyrus Thomas, Byron Mullens or Gana Diop – fit that description.
Over four NBA seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Sacramento Kings and Blazers, Hickson has averaged nine points and 5.8 rebounds and shot 49 percent from the field. Those numbers sound modest, but the one season Hickson got big minutes – 2010-11 in Cleveland – his production jumped to 13.8 points and 8.7 rebounds (admittedly on a bad Cavaliers team where someone had to register statistics).
After three seasons with the Cavaliers, Hickson was traded to the Kings for forward Omri Casspi and a future first-round pick. Hickson didn’t work out in Sacramento last season, and the Kings ended up waiving him. The Bobcats would have gotten first crack at claiming him off waivers, but didn’t have the room under the salary cap to absorb his salary.
Golden State intended to sign Hickson as a free agent once he cleared waivers, but the Blazers instead claimed him, and he played well in Portland on another team in need of inside help. The Blazers chose not to make him a qualifying offer, but that isn’t necessarily a judgment on Hickson’s value; Portland was protecting the cap space to make Indiana Pacer Hibbert a maximum-salary offer.
It’s unclear how strong an interest the Bobcats have in Hickson, but they now have plenty of potential room under the salary cap to make an offer. They’ll have competition; the Warriors are again quite interested in adding Hickson to their roster.
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