CLEVELAND — Anyone who wonders what in the name of
J.J. Hickson the Cavaliers did in last summer's NBA Draft only needed to see
Sunday’s game at The Q.
It ended with the Cavs pulling out a 93-92 victory over the Sacramento Kings —
a verdict that wasn’t reached until Kyrie Irving hit a pair of free throws with
0.4 seconds left.
Irving, of course, was the No. 1 overall pick. And while he struggled shooting
Sunday (8 for 21 for a team-high 23 points), there’s no doubting the rookie
point guard is already the Cavs’ best player.
But the story on this night was the young man whom the Cavs selected with the
fourth overall pick. That would be none other than power forward Tristan
Thompson.
If you remember, Thompson started the season strong, then tailed off a little,
then injured his ankle, then seemed to need time to adjust and get back into a
regular role.
Basically, Irving looks like a future star. Thompson looks like a rookie. A
talented rookie, but a rookie through and through.
On Sunday, he gave Cavs fans a glimpse of the future, finishing with his first
career double-double (15 points on 6-for-10 shooting and 12 rebounds) and in
the words of coach Byron Scott, just being generally active.
“That’s the one thing about him,” Scott said of Thompson. “If we can continue
to get him to do those things, he’ll be effective like he was tonight. I’m not
saying he’ll have double-doubles every night, but he’ll be effective.”
Scott also mentioned how Thompson played fairly well in last week’s loss to
Miami, and suggested it may be because Thompson’s ankle is feeling better.
“I’ve just been doing what I’ve been doing,” Thompson said. “I’m trying to grab
every rebound, block every shot, and run the floor. Fortunately, it worked out
good for myself and we got the win, which was most important.”
Now back to Hickson.
He was traded from the Cavs to Sacramento hours before the NBA lockout began on
July 1. The trade brought back Omri Casspi (and a conditional draft pick), and
that’s how everyone grades it — as Hickson vs. Casspi. Makes sense, since
they’re the two guys involved.
But Cavs fans also should look at the bigger picture. The Cavs mostly moved
Hickson to make way for Thompson.
Hickson’s contract is also up at the end of the season, but that’s a whole
different matter entirely. So sticking strictly with basketball, the bottom
line is the Cavs prefer Thompson’s upside to that belonging to Hickson.
When you consider Hickson has been a mess in Sacramento, particularly lately,
it’s looking more and more like the Cavs were right. (Hickson on the season is
averaging 5.2 points on 38 percent shooting in less than 20 minutes per game.)
Now, don’t misunderstand. Hickson is a good player, an even better guy and
still has time to figure things out with the Kings. He was hurt by the trade,
admitting before Sunday’s game that his preference
would’ve been to stay with the Cavs and “be part of the rebuild here.”
Instead, he is laboring to find his role with the Kings.
Thompson, on the other hand, is catching lob passes from Irving off the break,
throwing them down for dunks and rediscovering the spring in his step.
It’s true Thompson and Hickson might look good on the floor together,
especially with Cavs center Anderson Varejao being out with a broken wrist. But
the Kings figured Hickson would play very well next to Kings center DeMarcus
Cousins, and that hasn’t happened at all. Just the opposite, actually.
So there’s no telling how a Thompson-Hickson pairing would’ve worked.
Besides, the Cavs can only concern themselves with what they have today, and
what looks to be in store for their future.
The answer is Thompson, and it is Thompson who is the reason Hickson is now a
King.
