In the ongoing saga that is Byron Scott trying desperately to find a lineup combination that doesn’t struggle mightily, he claims he’s going to shorten the rotation considerably over the next week or two. As Mary Schmitt Boyer observes: “[Scott] used just eight players at Miami. The only reserves who played were J.J. Hickson (19 minutes), Joey Graham (16) and Ramon Sessions (11).” That trend will apparently continue, and if Scott is in the business of winning games, it’s probably his best option considering this team possesses a small number of players who are good at basketball.
Unsurprisingly, no Cavalier is coming close in the All-Star voting. You’re telling me Boobie Gibson isn’t a top 4 point guard in this league? Well, then you are a very reasonable man, sir.
Joey Graham tweaked his quad against Miami and will be a spectator for tonight’s game against the Pacers.
Let’s Talk About Our Feelings
Since there is a rather paltry selection of links today (a lot of Cleveland blogs and newspapers are talking Browns and Cleveland State basketball at the moment), I thought I’d engage you guys in the comment section a bit. Let’s talk about the enigma that is J.J. Hickson.
In the Cavs’ first eight games, he averaged 16.5 PPG on 52.1% shooting and was getting to the line 5.3 times per game in, on average, 27.6 minutes. Byron Scott’s criticisms of his rebounding are supported by the numbers, as even when we remember him as “on his game,” he was pulling down only about 6 rebounds each night, and his defense remains either “a work in progress” (optimistic) or “pretty awful” (pessimistic).
Since then: woof. You don’t need me to crunch the numbers. On offense, he’s forced things, disappeared for large stretches, and generally done little but throw down a dunk or two per game. On defense, he’s regressed, if that was even possible. His responses to Scott’s motivational tactics have not been positive; it seems like he just doesn’t get it. Scott tells him to work harder on the boards and the defensive end, and either: a.) he is trying as hard as he can and is simply unsuccessful, or b.) he literally doesn’t know what that means.
So what is J.J.’s future with this team? Does he have one? Do we hold out and hope he starts putting up 19-7 by the time he’s 24? What kind of trade offer would it take to send him packing? Please answer using only quotes from Francois Truffaut’s Jules et Jim. (But seriously, answers of any kind would be much appreciated.)
My abbreviated take: I have serious doubts that Hickson will ever grow into a player who can be a starter on a really good team. His basketball IQ just isn’t there, and he seems to have a confidence (arrogance?) about him that is detrimental to his development. If some GM or scout has been watching Cavs games and thinking “That guy is a tremendous talent who just needs a change of scenery,” then let’s see what they have to offer in the way of draft picks and talent. I don’t think the Cavs should move him for cap space/late-first round draft picks and a bag of potato chips simply because Hickson is 22 and we know he can play really well, if sporadically.
On The Twitters
“The significance of Graham’s injury is he’s someone who could guard Pacers forward Danny Granger.” [Bob Finnan]
“The problem with watching games and having my 2-year-old in the room: The KIA hip-hop hamsters ad comes on and we have to watch it 5 times.” [Kurt Helin]
In reference to the “Morgan Freeman is dead” rumor that lasted about 45 seconds: “Sorry for that guys. Technology is really great… until it isn’t.” [Jason Lloyd]
If the Bulls offer us Taj Gibson, this years 1st round pick, and next years Charlotte pick (which can eventually be an unprotected lottery pick) for Daniel Gibson and JJ Hickson, then I do it.
I just don’t know how you solve the problem of JJ not being able to catch and/or hold onto a basketball. More so than all of his other problems put together, I can not fathom how a basketball player in the NBA can drop at least 2 or 3 passes in the span of one game. Baby hands? Pregame olive oil rub downs?
I just wanted to say that John, with this blog, has handled a brutal season with grace, wit, erudition, and charm. God bless, John.
Don’t forget to give Colin props.
I am one of those people who believe that the Cavs should follow the OKC model and build through the draft. I see them as being one game out of last in the East and this being a potentially quick rebuild or 2 or 3 years if the right player is drafted. That being said, there is a flip side of the coin that is tempting to me and probably would be tempting to Dan Gilbert. The Cavs are also only three and a half games out of the eighth seed in the East. With Charlotte looking to possibly move Jackson and Wallace, I could see the Cavs trying to trade Hickson, Parker, Moon, all first and second round picks from the Heat and their 2012 first round pick to the Bobcats for both players. The trade exception makes the salaries work. That would give the Cavs a starting five of Mo, Jackson, Wallace, Jamison, and Varejao. Coming off the bench would be Gibson, Sessions, Hollins, Powe, and Graham. Is this a true championship contender? No, the bench is too weak and they probably still don’t have the guy ala Kobe or Lebron. Would it be a good long term plan? No Jackson is 32 and Wallace is 28, Mo would be the youngest starter. Would it be a solid playoff team that no one would want to play? Yes. Would it be a team that Gilbert could market and the fans could get behind? Yes.
In regards to Hickson and that weird Truffaut novel, I’ll take you up on that challenge!
“You said, ‘I love you,’ I said, ‘Wait.’ I was going to say, ‘Take me,’ you said, ‘Go away.’” -Jules and Jim (film)
In hindsight, playing with LeBron took a lot of pressure away from him to create his own opportunities on offense. He was pretty awful last year on interior defense, and that remains true today. Last year, when all the love was going around, we were okay with giving him time to develop, but now that the team needs players who can play well by themselves as trade assets, he’s much less valuable. Thus, while he wants more playing time(to be taken), Byron Scott is telling him to go away by putting him on the bench and playing less. How’s THAT for a tortured metaphor?
And Colin, mad propz go to you.
To Mike,
Actually, I don’t hate the idea of that trade with Charlotte, and to be honest, there is a small chance we wouldn’t have to give 3 first rounders to get it done. One could hope depending on the market, that they would be happy enough with the cap relief. But then, each of those guys could potentially get get multiple first rounders from a competitor. It really depends on how the market shakes out. The only problem is that they already have Tyrus Thomas, so I don’t really see how the thought of Hickson really helps them. A three team trade would probably be more likely. I just hope that the FO is as proactive as Ferry was and understands the potential fanbase loss the team could have if we go into the cellar for a few years. It is true that “hope” and “potential” frequently sells better than fringe playoff teams, but not in Cleveland and not after the last 7 years. If we could somehow get Jamison out of that lineup, we would be ridiculously good on D. Alas, none of this is likely to happen, but I have always loved Wallace’s game. My dream scenario is getting Wallace somehow and signing Oden in the offseason. The Basketball Gods owe it to him and to Cleveland that he gets healthy and plays well. I can only dream about a defensive frontline of Wallace, Andy and Oden. Awesome…. (Sorry, I got carried away into fantasy land)
About Hickson specifically, I think that, sadly, now might be the best time to trade him. He still has some stock throughout the league and is young enough for some other team to convince itself that he will get smarter, get better hands and not pout. He is not a good enough offensive player to warrant his atrocious floor game in every other aspect. I anticipate improvement from him, but think he is more valuable as a trade chip right now than we will be as a player in the future. I am sad writing that.
This team, as awful as it as been, is not so far away from being a decent team. Our hole at small forward kills everything that we try to do. It is nice to go small ball and all of that,, but the reason that Coach Brown always preferred bigger guards is that length his needed in order to play good rotation D and still get out to contest 3s. We have been getting killed all season on threes as our mighty mice have only been able to get near someone’s face even when they do everything correctly. We can’t continue to play 2 guys under 6’2″ and a 6’6″ guy at three who has no lift or bulk. Once they get even a little tired, we start giving up way too many wide open threes as evidenced by the barrages in the second half these last few games. Our lineup right now is certainly better in a lot of ways than it was before, but we need a way to keep Jawad from ever sniffing the court.etc…
About the Charlotte trade, I don’t see any reason MJ being the GM even thinks about giving up those guys. You have to think about it from their end…those guys are the face of THEIR franchise.
Second, while Dan Gilbert is not one to be patient or strategic, any trades like the Charlotte one represent a big TRAP to me. Being a small market team in an less that desirable city means drafting core players is essential. Going after these trades for stars that we KNOW won’t bring championships isn’t worth it.
As far as Hickson goes, I think if we can pair him with Jamison’s awful contract (and play) then we have a win there.
I just want to point out that you guys could’ve had Amare instead of Antwan last year had your front office been willing to part with JJ. Ouch.
I agree with Feezy.
You should have done everything in your power to get a player like Amare (in his prime instead of decline a.k.a. Big Ben or Shaq) But instead you wanted to “develop” the talents of a young player like J.J. Pat Riley himself always looked to the future and didn’t stay too partial to young players. Now there’s a price to be payed. Your money maker jumped ship, a few of your key players jumped ship, and now you all are garbage. Technically this could be considered as karma for the way Cleveland demonized Lebron (not to say that his DECISION t.v. stunt was anything but bogus, but his choice to leave is understandable). Now Dan Gilbert remind me of that letter you stated about winning a championship before James does? Does that look feasible as of now?
Also if you people can retire Bingo Smith’s number, then Lebron’s number should be up there.
the last few posts of people that dont understand the trade concept…it involves two teams….the Suns waited too long to get rid of Amare and Shaq and the Cavs thought JJ would blossom into a star…in fact many people thought that on here and elsewhere…now that he sucks and is mentally unstable everyone’s coming out saying…see we shoulda done this….maybe Lebron shoulda not signed that 3 yr deal so the Cavs had to rush to make things happen for him…maybe MIke Brown and Gilbert and Ferry shoulda not kissed his ass and his cronies all those years….shoulda woulda coulda…we didnt do it…remember Amare is flourishing in NY cuz he’s the only star there and has a decent pg to pick and roll with him…could Amare handle being second fiddle to Lebron in Cle if that trade happened? not so likely….
There’s never been evidence that the Suns were ready to trade Amare, unless someone can prove me differently. So let’s stop that talk right now.
Rich, are you kidding with that trade? Do you really think in a million years the Bulls would do that? Taj Gibson is better than JJ now and looks like he will be in the future. Yeah, they need a shooter, but they aren’t going to give up two first-round picks for Gibson. Wow.
I don’t think it’s time to give up on JJ yet, but my gut is telling me that he’ll be a good player someday…just not for the Cavs.
Let me also add…JJ Hickson feels like Shannon Brown all over again. Tons of talent that we can’t motivate or figure out. Send him to another team and another coach…