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J.J. Hickson's contract situation and could he recover Bird rights? "That's something that is going to have to be arbitrated or figured out. The league has one position and the players association has another position. We'll have to get that worked out and I'm sure it will be worked out in time to work on J.J.'s contract." Blazers Edge

Portland Trail Blazers, JJ Hickson 

The union asked for a hearing to decide upon the "Bird rights" of Lin, Novak, former Knick Chauncey Billups and Portland's J.J. Hickson, according to Novak's agent, Mark Bartelstein, and another person close to the situation. All four were waived last year and believe they are entitled to Bird rights, which allow teams to exceed the cap in order to re-sign their own free agents. "There's a question with regards to Steve's Bird rights," Bartelstein said. "We feel strongly that he should have them with the Knicks.'' Newsday

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

Buchanan said the team has not decided whether to sign a qualifying offer for Hickson, whom the team claimed off waivers from Sacramento. Hickson was a bright spot during the season's final stretch, as he averaged 15.1 points and 8.3 rebounds. "We liked what he did for us since we brought him in, and he was very valuable in keeping us competitive in these last games down the stretch," Buchanan said. "We'll make that decision when we have to make that decision. But it's still too early to make that call." Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, JJ Hickson 

John Canzano: JJ Hickson said he doesn't have a salary number in mind. "Let the cookies crumble where they may." http://t.co/qmOLUHO2 Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, JJ Hickson 

J.J. Hickson (restricted free agent) Did you think about this being your last practice as a Blazer? “No it hasn't. If I'm here next year that's not up to me. It's up to the powers that be. I'm just looking to get a good practice in like I just did and get ready for Utah tomorrow." Do you want to remain in Portland? “Of course. This organization thinks highly of me and vice versa. It's a type of mutual thing. It's a win-win for me and the organization. So, why not?" CSNNW.com

Portland Trail Blazers, Free Agency, JJ Hickson 

SLAM: Next year, being a restricted free agent, is Portland a place you’d like to stay and possibly re-sign with moving forward? JH: Of course, I would love it. I’ve been getting some positive feedback from Coach, and from the organization as a whole, and I would love to re-sign here. As far as the guys on the court, as far as my teammates go, we all like each other off the court and we all get along too. Guys hang out off the court, and I think that builds a chemistry that leads to winning basketball. So I would love to come back here, continue to be a Portland Trailblazer, and help be part of something special that we’re building here. SLAM

Portland Trail Blazers, Free Agency, JJ Hickson 

SLAM: What were your initial reactions when you first learned that you’d finish this season as a member of the Portland Trailblazers? JJ Hickson: I was really excited. I was ecstatic about joining this team in Portland, and getting into a situation where I could really prosper, and show what I can do. SLAM: Why do you think the situation in Sacramento didn’t work out the way that you and the organization had hoped it would when they first traded for you? JH: As far as Sacramento, there wasn’t, and isn’t, any bad blood on either side there as far as me, the organization, and the team are concerned. There wasn’t any animosity there on either side at all, and I wish their team the best of luck. It just wasn’t a good fit for me there. I don’t have anything negative to say about that team, it just wasn’t a good fit for me, as far as my game is concerned, and I’m happy now to be a Portland Trailblazer. I’m glad to be in this situation, and I’m just focused on trying to make the most of it. SLAM

Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, Free Agency, Trade, JJ Hickson 

Ever since J.J. Hickson stepped on the court as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers, he's been a joy to watch considering the type of season Trail Blazer fans have endured. Most didn't know what to expect from Hickson after a subpar half of a season with the Sacramento Kings that eventually resulted in a buyout. Now having resurrected his season in Portland, Hickson says he would like to remain a Trail Blazer, but he won't allow his desire to stay, interfere with his performance out on the court. “I can't get wrapped up in all of that. My agent will handle the business side,” Hickson told CSNNW.com. “I do want to let them know that I want to be here, but I'm just going to continue playing basketball.” CSNNW.com

Portland Trail Blazers, JJ Hickson 

The Trail Blazers will take a wait-and-see approach with the handling of Hickson. Since sporting the red, black, and white, Hickson has put up numbers of 14.1 points per game, 7.2 rebounds, and shooting 56 percent from the floor. That is night and day compared to 4.7 points per game, 5.0 rebounds, and 37 percent from the floor in which he posted in Sacramento this season. For those discrepancy, the Trail Blazers will assess every single game before saying if they plan on tendering Hickson a qualifying offer. “We still want to evaluate J.J. in these next seven games,” Acting GM Chad Buchanan told CSNNW.com. “We're excited to have him and he's playing some great ball for us. We have time before making a decision.” CSNNW.com

Portland Trail Blazers, JJ Hickson 

Hickson has played well enough to earn an offer from Portland, too -- perhaps in the $5 million-per-year range. "J.J. has shown some good things in his short time with us," Miller says. "We'll see what his situation works out to be." The Blazers would like to take care of free-agent acquisitions before getting to the contracts of Batum and Hickson. "We'd like to spend our cap room first," Buchanan says. "Then you can go over (the cap) to re-sign your own guys." Portland Tribune

Portland Trail Blazers, JJ Hickson 

By claiming Hickson off waivers, the Blazers gained the right to tender him a qualifying offer after the season and make him a restricted free agent. Hickson said he wasn’t sure what his future would hold. “That’s up to the organization,” he said. “That’s something I have no control over. That’s something players will never, ever have control over. But you know, I’m just focused on finishing out the season strong and making a run for the playoffs.” Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, JJ Hickson 

On Wednesday, J.J. Hickson was at New Orleans Arena before the Golden State Warriors played the Hornets. He had been waived Monday by the Sacramento Kings, and with the 48-hour waiver period about to end, he was prepared to accept the Warriors' offer to join them for the rest of the season. With about five minutes left until the deadline passed, he made his way out to the court, wearing Warriors gear. “I was walking out to go shoot, get some shots up before the game, and they (previously) said I couldn’t go on the court until the deadline,” Hickson. “So I was going out to go out and get some shots and they told me I couldn’t go on the court because I didn’t clear waivers.” Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, JJ Hickson 

Warriors' missing out on J.J. Hickson came down to cap space. GSW needed to be $2.35 million under the cap to be able to claim him off waivers. Their hopes he cleared waivers were dashed by Portland. Sulia

Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers, JJ Hickson 

J.J. Hickson on the Kings buy out: "Keith Smart and the coaching staff were cool. All of my ex-teammates were cool. It just wasn't working out. I don't think that was a good situation for me, myself or for the team. We thought it was best for me to get up out of there and that's what happened. They bought me out. It's no love lost. I wish those guys the best of luck." Sulia

Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, JJ Hickson 

Sam Amick: Source says Portland has been awarded forward JJ Hickson from waivers. Golden State misses out. Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Free Agency, JJ Hickson 

Sam Amick: So long as JJ Hickson clears waivers at 6 pm EST, sources say he will sign w/ Warriors. @msteinmetzcsn reported it was likely 2 days ago. Twitter

Golden State Warriors, Free Agency, JJ Hickson 

The Suns have shown interest in power forward J.J. Hickson but he is likely to pick Golden State once he clears waivers on Wednesday. Hickson, 23, was bought out Monday by Sacramento and needs a situation where he can resurrect his career after falling out of favor with the Kings. Golden State is down a big man after trading Epke Udoh with Monta Ellis to Milwaukee and getting back injured center Andrew Bogut. In Phoenix, the Suns would have to curtail the development of rookie power forward Markieff Morris in order to play Hickson at a position where they already have Hakim Warrick out of the rotation. Arizona Republic

Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns, Free Agency, JJ Hickson 

What’s next for you? There are reports that you’re interested in signing with Golden State or Phoenix. Are they true? Hickson: (There’s) a couple teams especially the two that you just mentioned. We’re still talking and hopefully I can find the right situation for myself and then we’ll go from there. CK: Are there other teams besides Golden State and Phoenix that you’re considering? Hickson: Yeah, but I’d rather not say. Cowbell Kingdom

Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns, Free Agency, JJ Hickson 

Warriors will definitely make a run at J.J. Hickson when he clears waivers. I asked one GSW exec why has Hickson falling off so fast. He said "I don't know, but we want to find out." The Warriors won't claim him off waivers, though, and pay a fraction of the $2.35M he has remaining this year. But they are very interested in bringing on the guy for whom the Kings gave up Omri Casspi and a first-rounder to get. Yahoo! Sports first reported the Warriors' interest in JJ Sulia

Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns, Free Agency, JJ Hickson 

Team sources said the Nets were not interested in J.J. Hickson, released by Kings. Cavs coach Byron Scott had Hickson in Cleveland: “When he was here the thing we always talked about was the defensive end of the floor and not thinking about offense all the time.” New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Free Agency, JJ Hickson