Nuggets Sign J.J Hickson
The Nuggets have signed free agent center-forward J.J. Hickson to a three-year deal worth $15 million, Yahoo! Sports Adrian Wojnarowski reported. Hickson started 80 games for the Portland Trail Blazers while averaging 12.7 points and 10.4 rebounds in 29.0 minutes. The big issue with Hickson has always been his lack of defense.
"Y! Sources: Denver reaches an agreement with J.J. Hickson on three-year, $15 million-plus deal."
http://t.co/UdVBt8qoMD”>http://t.co/UdVBt8qoMD</a></p>— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/354016853812715522″>July7, 2013
Hickson is a 6’9″ Power Foward-Center out of North Carolina State. He has spent six seasons in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Sacramento Kings, and Portland Trailblazers. Hickson is only 24 and his game is very similar to Faried’s but with less potential. He will add another high energy rebounder to the team but there are reports of him being lazy and stubborn. I find that strange because in Cleveland he was very close with LeBron and even considering going to Miami instead of resigning with Portland. You would think that the game’s best player would not want to be around and train with someone who is lazy.
The Nuggets were able to acquire Hickson using the mid level exception.Hickson adds more frontcourt depth alongside Kenneth Faried, JaVale McGee, Anthony Randolph and Darrell Arthur. It is unclear whether the Nuggets plan to use him at the center like the Portland Trailblazers. This move does not mean that Timofey Mozgov is gone. GM Tim Connelly would still like to have the Russian big man back next year. He has however received an offer from Russian team Lokomotiv Kuban which would be considered his hometown team. The deal is for four years according to sources.
Overall: I think this is a good pickup for the Nuggets and will add depth to the frontcourt and allow the Nuggets to get more second chance points.