Time to play Geoff Petrie: JJ Hickson

by Crocoduck on Feb 20, 2012 9:55 AM PST

So at this point I think it's safe to say that JJ Hickson has been a huge disappointment. Out of all the offseason moves, including the draft, this was the guy I was most excited too see this season. And despite giving up the 1st rounder at the time, I still thought it was a decent risk. Then again this is the Sacramento Kings, and things rarely work out the way we hope.

So now what? We have a guy who's not producing and a 1st round pick tied up for years. For a team that has to build through the draft and trades, this is incredibly frustrating. Judging by his performance here, his recent comments to the Cleveland newspapers, and the fact that he's a RFA, I don't see any chance that he's a King next season. Our options at this point seem to be: A. continue the season and hope things turn around, B. continue the season and let him walk, along with the draft pick, this offseason for nothing, or C. move him at the trade deadline.

My vote would be move him at the trade deadline, and hope to get back some kind of asset now. I still think JJ can and will be a good player, and with the right team and the right offense, would be much more productive. What his trade value is now is a question mark, but I think it's safe to say the Kings would be selling low considering all they have invested.

What do you guys think? If you were Geoff what would you do? What kind of trade value do you think he has? Or do you think there is enough there to continue the season and hope Smart can turn things around?

(This is a FanPost from a member of the Sactown Royalty community. The views expressed come from the member, and not Sactown Royalty staff.)

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You could try selling JJ and maybe another piece if needed to Denver for Birdman

JJ would thrive in an uptempo system like that, and Anderson would give us 15 minutes a game of a shot blocking presence. Doing this, you could start Hayes with DMC and have Birdman off the bench with JT.

Or, since JJ has been our most consistent big running the floor, start him in place of JT and see how well he works with IT in the starting lineup and the faster pace.

"First we get jobs, then we get the khakis, then we get the chicks."

by Wonderchild on Feb 20, 2012 11:00 AM PST reply actions

Don't give up on him

First off, his comments yesterday were annoying. JJ wants to blame the new team, the new coach, the new system. Guess what JJ? It is not a new sport. Its still basketball, and you act like you forgot how to play.

Being uncomfortable with a new system and new plays is not a valid cop out for being able to catch the ball, help defend, or make open looks. And he’s done none of that most of the season. Its hard to argue for more playing time, even though his competition has been almost as underwhelming.

But he’s still 23 years old with a ton of athleticism, and decent shooting form and footwork. He reacts to the ball really well on the boards, and seems to work on his game. I go back to playing one year of college as cause to think his full potential is ahead of him.

So the price tag has been slashed unless he becomes a new player in the second half of the season. A 2 year, $8 million dollar contract, or 3 year and $10 million, would probably be the best offer he could garner elsewhere, and the Kings would be likely to match.

Smart Era, y'all.

by bench_blob on Feb 20, 2012 11:22 AM PST reply actions

Maybe the Kings should put out a statement:

SACRAMENTO, CALIF., Feb 21, 2012 — Whenever a season progresses, in any sport, there is great hope that everything will progress in only a steady, upward direction. As we all know, it seldom happens like that in this life!

As coaches, we can only ask that our players do everything they can to improve themselves as individuals and teammates. If they do this with all their hearts, we live with the results.

Everything that happens on a team does not become known to the public. This is how it should be. However, when a player continually, aggressively, lets it be known that he is unwilling/unable to embrace traveling in the same direction as his team, it cannot be ignored indefinitely.

JJ Jickson says he wouldn’t mind returning to Cleveland next season telling people he didn’t want to come to a situation like this. In the best interest of our team as we go forward, we will deal with the situation accordingly.

On DeMarcus Cousins - "Should he just be renamed Player of the Week?" HeuristicLineup

by Slam_Dunk on Feb 21, 2012 7:32 AM PST up reply actions

No way we give up on him,

I mean give him a whole off season to work out, and work with the team; I mean He will be great as the 3rd for 4th Big Man and with all of this Athleticism it’ll be hard to turn around and trade him. I say give him another season, maybe we need another PG to help, or we need to get him in better position, but all i know is that his upside is WAY to great to just turn around and trade him

by shadowchicken on Feb 20, 2012 11:33 AM PST reply actions

If a guy wants out find a way to get more for him (either by more talent and/or less money) or let sit him until the season ends and his contract expires

NBA players’ want bigger salaries. You sign for more money if you show your worth either by nice stats or team wins. Either way, you need PT.

So, JJ needs to learn to fit in and produce. He can’t and he is frustrated.

If I am GP I trade the guy now BUT I admit that I took a gamble with accommodating an unhappy Omri Casspi for the same reasons and sent out a very valuable lottery protected draft pick to make the trade to get Hickson as a failure.

by betweentheeyes on Feb 20, 2012 12:11 PM PST reply actions

It would be nice if they used him well

Because they are not using him well or really at all. He is just a body to play defense at this point. He plays best close to the rim. Why not run some plays for him that get him the ball close to the spots where he is best. He is not a great jump shooter. Put him in the paint with the ball and have him get a few dunks. Then let’s talk.

"I gotta have more cowbell"

by CowbellKings on Feb 20, 2012 12:20 PM PST reply actions

It seems like most of the times he's gotten the ball down low

He turns to face up, and settles for the jumper or drives into the paint for the fadaway jumper.
I would like to see him play with Thomas a little more. But it’s not like they havn’t gotten minutes togethor at all, and he still needs to catch the ball to finish.

I think the main concern I’m having is that JT and JJ are both RFA, and I don’t see the Kings keeping both. At this point JT has been the better player. I would think a SF would be a top priority this offseason, and this years draft is loaded with bigs.

by Crocoduck on Feb 20, 2012 12:31 PM PST up reply actions

I would love to talk reply in full, but...

I will say this -

J.J. Hickson is not known for his defensive prowess. Not in Cleveland and not in Sacramento.

J.J. Hickson is not being asked to take mid-range jumpers, that is what he is settling for and that is what he worked on all through the off-season and lockout.

Not to shamelessly promote my own work, but implore you to listen to the Cowbell Kingdom podcast with J.J. Hickson from a few months back. Here is the link.

Listen to him tell you who he is as a player and make your own judgment.

The world is not your Trade Machine.

-Ziller

@James_Ham
www.cowbellkingdom.com

by jjham15 on Feb 20, 2012 5:56 PM PST up reply actions

Good interview

I listened and it was cool to hear. Sadly, I don’t think all his work on his jumper did that much to help his game. Maybe he is settling, but if he gets the ball down low he scores. Out farther not so much…

I think it is fine to say he is settling for jumpers, but at the same time I think it is also fair to say he needs to be getting the ball in different spots.

He rarely gets the ball within ten feet of the basket, let alone closer, and it seems like every possession he gets doesn’t really put him in a position to score.

"I gotta have more cowbell"

by CowbellKings on Feb 20, 2012 8:33 PM PST up reply actions

My point was...

that where Hickson goes on offense, is his choice. Is there another Kings big that does what Hickson does? That should tell you all you need to know. Chucks Hayes, Jason Thompson and DeMarcus Cousins all get position in the post or run the high post. That is not what Hickson chooses to do.

Check out these stats.

67% of Hickson’s shots come on jump shots and he hits for a 35% eFG% on those shots .

48% of Cousins’ shots come on jump shots and he hits for a 39.5% eFG% on those shots

43% of Thompson’s shots come on jump shots and he hits for a 32% eFG% on those shots.

37% of Hayes’ shots come on jump shots and he hits for a 23% eFG% on those shots.

Do you remember that song from Sesame Street? One of these kids is doing his own thing, three of these kids are kind of the same.

33% of Hickson’s shots come from the inside and on those shots, he hits for a 47% eFG%…..so you are right, he is better inside, he just chooses not to shoot from there very often.

The world is not your Trade Machine.

-Ziller

@James_Ham
www.cowbellkingdom.com

by jjham15 on Feb 20, 2012 9:06 PM PST up reply actions

How does a players just do whatever he wants.

I thought that they kinda had to play per coaches instruction or there would be consequences. Kind of how he got benched the rest of a game for not running the floor…

Easy fix though. Smart should just let him know that if he doesn’t get position he doesn’t get the ball. Ever. He gets zero touches.

"I gotta have more cowbell"

by CowbellKings on Feb 20, 2012 9:10 PM PST up reply actions

Look at his minutes.

He is on a steady decline from game #15 on. Some players think they can add some element to their game that will make them so much better. Instead, they should improve on the things they do well and then sprinkle in a little bit here and there.

Hickson wants to be Amaré. Not the really good Amaré who used to dominate the paint, but the one who shoots outside all game. Bad career move. He is shooting a woeful 37.5% from the field. It doesn’t help that he doesn’t have Steve Nash or Jeremy Lin either, but God gives you lemons…

He should be a dominant inside presence who rebounds like crazy and plays aggressive defense – a young Shawn Kemp or a young Amaré. I believe that is who Geoff Petrie thought he was trading for.

The world is not your Trade Machine.

-Ziller

@James_Ham
www.cowbellkingdom.com

by jjham15 on Feb 20, 2012 9:51 PM PST up reply actions

Really interesting James

I can see that his minutes have clearly dropped… Yeah, he should be making some lemonade.

I just thought that JT was playing better and that he had earned those minutes, but it is interesting to see this drop knowing that Hayes has been hurt. Maybe even more telling…

I had to wonder about JJ’s reaction to Smart and him getting benched for not running the floor. It seems that his response to Smart displayed an unwillingness to listen. Coachability issues?

Really appreciate this information! JJ should do what he does best and he can succeed on this team.

This kind of stuff is why you are the best person covering the Kings.

"I gotta have more cowbell"

by CowbellKings on Feb 20, 2012 10:29 PM PST up reply actions

I can lead you to water...

but I can’t make you drink. And, I also can’t tell you everything that I see and everything I am told off the record. I hope you have gotten a small glimpse into some of the issues the Kings are dealing with.

Never forget that Hickson is only a restricted free agent if the Kings give him a qualifying offer. Like Greene and Thompson, J.J. is playing for a pay day. To get a pay day in the NBA, you need to score, which is what Hickson is trying to do, he just isn’t going about it the most eFG% way.

Thanks for the kind words.

The world is not your Trade Machine.

-Ziller

@James_Ham
www.cowbellkingdom.com

by jjham15 on Feb 20, 2012 11:09 PM PST up reply actions

So what you are saying, if I am interpreting your cryptic words correctly is

JJ Hickson is thirsty or he has the drip.

Am I warm or cold?

by betweentheeyes on Feb 20, 2012 11:22 PM PST up reply actions

Damn now I am even thirstier!

And I hope that Hickson gets it turned around. His interview made it pretty clear he is not a happy camper.

You are the best James. Anything you can share is always appreciated.

"I gotta have more cowbell"

by CowbellKings on Feb 20, 2012 11:46 PM PST up reply actions

So, if I understand you,

JJ wants to do things his way, which isn’t necessarily to the betterment of the team. He doesn’t listen to his coach, gets out on the floor and plays the game the way he wants to play it even if he would do much better to take higher percentage shots in the paint.

He sounds immature voicing his complaints, selfish playing how he wants to play even if it a detriment to the team, and marginally coachable since he doesn’t follow his coach’s advice. What a frickin baby!

On DeMarcus Cousins - "Should he just be renamed Player of the Week?" HeuristicLineup

by Slam_Dunk on Feb 21, 2012 7:53 AM PST up reply actions

OK, just looked up Hickson's stats

At the rim he is, per hoopdata, 50%, but has been as high as 68% in the past. Probably got fed the ball better. And from 3 to 9 feet he is at 41%.

Out past 9 feet? Holy crap! From 10-15 feet he is in the low 20s which is the worst spot on the floor for him. And this is where he normally gets the ball? That is just abysmal. HORRENDOUS…He is actually better shooting 3s…

"I gotta have more cowbell"

by CowbellKings on Feb 20, 2012 9:06 PM PST up reply actions

Try to see if we can trade him

Either to a bad team for a second rounder or to a good team for a late first rounder. San Antonio has been looking for youth & they seem to make great players out of anyone.

The Hawks could use a big. Maybe you can get Landry Fields from NY. JJ might thrive under D’antoni & playing with Jeremy Lin.

Miami has a lack of depth at the big man positions & ridiculous depth at the wings. Maybe they’ll trade Mike Miller or Shane Battier for JJ. JJ needs to get his buddy Lebron on the phone so he can get Pat Riley to get him there.

by Allbenji on Feb 20, 2012 12:45 PM PST via mobile reply actions

ATL would be high on him

but we can’t get much back, unless we want TMac, Pargo, or Hinrich. Can’t see much else.

I say we try giving him a few runs with DMC- maybe once as a C and maybe once at the 4. A starting 5 of IT, Evans, Thornton, Hickson, and DMC is interesting, and could play very fast. The 3 is still our major weakness, but we’ll see. I’d love for it to work out, and hopefully it does.

by KevinSalvadori on Feb 20, 2012 6:04 PM PST up reply actions

If we could trade Hickson for any of those 3 players, do it!!

Any of them would improve our team. I’d do it in a straight up swap. Even better if we could swindle them outta 2 or all 3 of those names. Hickson is not gonna be back next year. Get something in return while we can. T-Mac would be an excellent addition on our team

"Clowns hate how I lock this down, but if they think I'm obnoxious now, wait til I pop Cristal." - Copywrite

by Ninja King on Feb 22, 2012 2:43 AM PST up reply actions

Can't sell him now.

Let’s give him another couple years.

"We're not talking about me and Darko in the same sentence." - Chris Webber vs KAHN!

by caseycheesecake on Feb 20, 2012 2:05 PM PST reply actions

JJ gets 7+ years to develop bug Reke only gets 2?

by Allbenji on Feb 20, 2012 4:46 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

Nope.

It’s simply because we’d be selling as low as possible.

"We're not talking about me and Darko in the same sentence." - Chris Webber vs KAHN!

by caseycheesecake on Feb 22, 2012 7:20 AM PST up reply actions

So you wanna give him a new contract when he’s gonna wanna probably 8-10 million a year

Founder of Isaiah as Mogwai..

by Widowwolf on Feb 21, 2012 7:31 AM PST up reply actions

He can want that kind of cash

But he’s going to get whatever someone offers. The kings would have to decide if their going to match, if they sign him to a qualifying offer to begin with.

Geoff needs to make a decision soon. If he decides to keep him now and then they don’t resign him this offseason I think it would be the final nail in the coffin.

by Crocoduck on Feb 21, 2012 7:46 AM PST via mobile up reply actions

Nope.

He won’t earn that.

"We're not talking about me and Darko in the same sentence." - Chris Webber vs KAHN!

by caseycheesecake on Feb 22, 2012 7:20 AM PST up reply actions

I'm going to play Geoff Petrie

and tell you absolutely nothing

Sanka....you dead? Ya Man

by prowseinthehouse on Feb 20, 2012 4:33 PM PST reply actions 8 recs

That's because Geoff is extremely busy

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by otis29 on Feb 21, 2012 9:03 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs

that's too good

by youknowit100 on Feb 21, 2012 11:29 PM PST up reply actions

Trade him as part of a biiiiiig deal

He’d be perfect as a young replacement project in one of the deals (should it happen) involving Gasol or Howard. If it somehow involved us getting another piece in return, one more battle-ready and capable right now, it’d be perfect. My drunk, delusional dream is getting Gasol as part of some deal that involves Williams/Howard, but who knows. In any case, I could see NJ or LAL being interested in him in that scenario as a project big.

by KevinSalvadori on Feb 20, 2012 5:54 PM PST reply actions

If they do resign JJ...

I hope it’s because they see something in him that can be developed and made productive at the 4, and not because of the “giving up a protected pick” stuff.

by getPGwithbounce on Feb 20, 2012 5:58 PM PST reply actions 1 recs