Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Some observers of the Portland Trail Blazers had mentioned earlier in the year that if any player was likely to be involved in a trade for the team, it will be J.J. Hickson.
Now he’s probably one of the most unlikely to go, with LaMarcus Aldridge‘s name being thrown around in a possible deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Hickson could still be gone but the Trail Blazers are likely to want to keep a fan favorite and he had his best NBA season in 2012-13 despite a mediocre finish. Hickson averaged 12.7 points and 10.3 rebounds a game for Portland in 80 starts. He also averaged 29.09 minutes a game.
Those are rather impressive figures compared to what his career marks are: 23 minutes, 9.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, and a percentage of 50.9 in field goals
It was his first full season in Portland and Hickson wanted to prove he could work his way nicely into a lineup with the likes of Aldridge and Damian Lillard. For the most part, he blended into the Portland lineup very well.
The last two games of the regular season were disappointments for Hickson with a combined 4-of-11 in shooting for only nine points. He was 7-of-16 for the floor and 5-of-6 in free throws in a late-season game against the Denver Nuggets in 37 minutes of outstanding action in which he had nine rebounds and six assists.
That’s the kind of J.J. Hickson the Trail Blazers were accustomed to seeing all season. And that’s who they hope to see next season.
