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Did it wear on you as a player? Some of the antics? Hickson: Not really, because none of it was directed towards me. But it definitely affected the team at times. But we had our good times too, so you have to take the good with the bad. Cowbell Kingdom

Sacramento Kings, DeMarcus Cousins, JJ Hickson 

But in talking to Hickson about his nightly effort, it struck a funny chord with the 6-foot-9 center. There was part of him that was offended. “Let me ask you a question,’’ Hickson said in the middle of my interview. “So just because I go out and get whatever how many rebounds, that makes me a hustle guy?’’ “No, I’m not saying you are a hustle guy,’’ I said. “I’m saying you play hard every night.’’ “OK, then why do people misconstrue playing your butt off for being a hustle guy?’’ Hickson asked. “I have no problem with it, I’m just asking you. What’s that line?’’ “I wouldn’t say you are a hustle guy, I would say you are an energy guy,’’ I countered. He thought for a second. “Ok, I will take that. That’s the only way I know how to play - all gas, no brakes. That’s the way I was taught to play the game,’’ Hickson said. Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, JJ Hickson 

“I feel like it takes away from my overall game,’’ Hickson said. “I’m much more than a hustle guy: I can shoot, I can make basketball plays ... but I will take it. It’s all good.’’ Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, JJ Hickson 

“It's tough,” J.J. Hickson said. “It definitely stung. This one definitely hurts more. They were 0-12 coming into this game and they got their first win against us. That says a lot about us as a team.” “It was embarrassing,” Nicolas Batum said. “ CSNNW.com

Portland Trail Blazers, JJ Hickson, Nicolas Batum 

Another thing that will help Aldridge this season is having J.J. Hickson next to him in the front court, ready to do some of the dirty work Aldridge isn’t as inclined to do. “He’s just active,” says Aldridge. “I think he compliments me well because he dives hard, he’s active on the boards, back to the rim. I need someone next to me that is high energy because I’m kind of mellow, so I need someone with that high energy. He’s been that so far and it’s been big for us.” There are some around the NBA who look at the Blazers and see a playoff team, and while they do look like a team that isn’t far off, Aldridge isn’t ready to make any such claim. “It’s too early, we’re just going to try and keep building, keep getting better every game,” says Aldridge. “If we keep growing, anything is possible. … I’m a realist. I’ve done this one or two times. When you have a really young team, you can be high and you can be low, so we’re just going to try and be in the middle.” HoopsWorld

Portland Trail Blazers, JJ Hickson, LaMarcus Aldridge 

And although this Blazers season will be littered with a heavy dose of new -- from coach to general manager to an overhauled roster that features five rookies -- Stotts says he will open training camp with Hickson at center, in part, because of his history with the team. "J.J. is the incumbent," Stotts said. "I'm not saying he's going to be the starting center opening night. We'll have to see how training camp goes, see how the preseason goes, and then we'll make that determination. Meyers (Leonard) has played very well (this summer). But it's just like politics: J.J. has been here, he's the returner, so going into it he has the advantage." Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, JJ Hickson 

Mike Tokito: #Blazers officially announce J.J. Hickson signing. Olshey calls him a "very special athlete." Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Free Agency, JJ Hickson 

Adrian Wojnarowski: J.J. Hickson has agreed to a one-year contract with Portland, league source tells Y! Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Free Agency, JJ Hickson 

Four years after acquiring an extra first-round pick in hopes of acquiring him, the Charlotte Bobcats are taking a second look at former N.C. State big man J.J. Hickson. Hickson’s agent, Andy Miller, confirmed in a brief email to the Observer that the Bobcats have expressed interest in his client. Hickson became an unrestricted free agent last week when the Portland Trail Blazers chose not to tender a $4.4 million qualifying offer. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Portland Trail Blazers, Free Agency, JJ Hickson 

Four years after acquiring an extra first-round pick in hopes of acquiring him, the Charlotte Bobcats are taking a second look at former N.C. State big man J.J. Hickson. Hickson’s agent, Andy Miller, confirmed in a brief email to the Observer that the Bobcats have expressed interest in his client. Hickson became an unrestricted free agent last week when the Portland Trail Blazers chose not to tender a $4.4 million qualifying offer. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Portland Trail Blazers, Free Agency, JJ Hickson 

"Hard to envision" JJ Hickson signing with anyone but Warriors, according to source with knowledge of situation. Warriors thought they had landed Hickson after he was waived by Kings during season, will make serious push for him now in free agency. Sulia

Golden State Warriors, Free Agency, JJ Hickson 

The Warriors are in the early stages of discussions for free agent big man J.J. Hickson, according to league sources. Contra Costa Times

Golden State Warriors, Free Agency, JJ Hickson 

Portland still has interest in Hickson. Including the Blazers and Warriors, about six teams are in the mix for Hickson. Contra Costa Times

Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers, Free Agency, JJ Hickson 

Trail Blazers general manager Neil Olshey on Friday said the team will not make a qualifying offer to J.J. Hickson, allowing the fourth-year forward to become an unrestricted free agent at 9 p.m. Saturday. Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Free Agency, Neil Olshey, JJ Hickson 

Olshey didn't rule out Hickson's return, however, saying he would discuss "a different deal construction" with Hickson and agent Andy Miller after the free agency negotiation period begins Saturday night. Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Free Agency, Neil Olshey, JJ Hickson 

Because he plays power forward, the same position as franchise player LaMarcus Aldridge, Hickson likely would be a role player for the Blazers. If they would have qualified him, the Blazers would have taken on a $5.9 million cap hold, significantly decreasing their available cap space for other free agents. Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Free Agency, JJ Hickson 

Jason Quick: Blazers GM Neil Olshey says team will not issue qualifying offer to JJ Hickson but will be open to negotiating on July 1 Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Free Agency, Neil Olshey, JJ Hickson 

Howard Beck: Lin and Novak will be "early-Bird" free agents, as arbitrator had ruled. Billups and Hickson get full bird rights. Twitter

Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers, Free Agency, Chauncey Billups, JJ Hickson, Jeremy Lin, Steve Novak 

June 30 is the deadline for the Trail Blazers to tender a qualifying offer of $4.4 million that would make Hickson a restricted free agent in which would allow them to match any offer a team issues. His cap hold, though, would be set at $5.9 million. Hickson's agent, Andy Miller, and Trail Blazers general manger, Neil Olshey, came to an agreement to wait and see how the Trail Blazers' draft would play out before both sides made a decision, either way. “Andy wanted to see where we went in the draft first,” Olshey told CSNNW.com. "I don't want to speculate how the draft effected it or didn't. I'll talk to Andy about that. We'll get on the phone and figure out based on where we're going and the opportunity here for J.J., and see if it fits in his plans and if it still fits into our plans.” CSNNW.com

Portland Trail Blazers, Free Agency, Neil Olshey, JJ Hickson 

The ruling — which applies to any player who was claimed off waivers — also affects Chauncey Billups of the Los Angeles Clippers and J. J. Hickson of the Portland Trail Blazers. Billups and Hickson will now have full Bird rights, allowing them to re-sign with their teams for any amount up to the maximum salary. New York Times

Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers, Free Agency, Chauncey Billups, JJ Hickson