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Hickson says he has enjoyed his time in Portland, but will fully evaluate his options this summer before signing a new deal. “It’s still to be determined,” Hickson said about his free agent status during his end of season presser. “You never what’s going to happen in the offseason with different trades and things like that. So right now I’m just sitting back and getting ready for the summer and letting the cookies crumble where they may. This is my first time in free agency so I’ll sit down and talk with my agency and see what the best options are and go from there.” HoopsWorld

Portland Trail Blazers, Free Agency, JJ Hickson 

Chris Haynes: JJ Hickson was asked if he thinks he'll be back with #Blazers. He said that's to be determined. Says he definitely wants to come back. Twitter @ChrisBHaynes

Portland Trail Blazers, JJ Hickson 

There are no hard feelings and no regrets, but it appears this will be the final week that J.J. Hickson and the Trail Blazers are together, with both sides acknowledging this week that the writing is on the wall. The Blazers, who have given up the most interior points in the NBA, want to find a more defensive-oriented center next season, while Hickson - a power forward who bit his tongue and played as an undersized center for the Blazers - wants to start, and is eager to test his market value when he becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Free Agency, JJ Hickson 

“For us to make a jump next season, J.J. can’t be our starting center,’’ Olshey said, referencing the Blazers’ 47.4 points allowed in the paint per game, an NBA high. “I’m not saying he can’t be part of the roster. But we need to find a starting-caliber center who protects the rim and gets defensive rebounds at a high rate and that has a presence. And we have to do a better job at defending the paint. So you have to ask: Is it likely there is enough minutes to commit the kind of dollars J.J. will command, when clearly there are other positions that need to be upgraded? Probably not.’’ Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Free Agency, JJ Hickson 

Andy Miller, who represents Hickson, said Olshey hasn’t flat-out told him Hickson is not in the Blazers’ plans, but Miller said he is under the impression that the Blazers will move in a different direction than Hickson. “I think Neil has been fairly candid to me as far as where they stand,’’ Miller said. “I don’t feel confident about the situation. Earlier in the season there may have been mood swings and perspective swings where I felt the tide swinging, to where I felt that this would be more than a rental for both sides. But lately, I haven’t felt that way at all. He definitely hasn’t misled me.’’ Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Free Agency, JJ Hickson 

Chris Haynes: .@CSNNW has learned that JJ Hickson will remain a #Blazers. Twitter @ChrisBHaynes

Portland Trail Blazers, JJ Hickson 

Brooklyn or bust! ‘ That’s what J.J. Hickson was telling the Portland Trail Blazers today in the hours leading up to the NBA trade deadline, league sources told SheridanHoops.com. Hickson made it known that he would only waive his trade veto if he was dealt to the Brooklyn Nets, but a trade between the teams [ SheridanHoops

Brooklyn Nets, Portland Trail Blazers, Trade, JJ Hickson 

Chris Haynes: A source close to the situation tells @CSNNW that as of right now, there's not one deal that makes sense for #Blazers F/C JJ Hickson. Twitter @ChrisBHaynes

Portland Trail Blazers, Trade, JJ Hickson 

As we reported a few days ago, the Nets do like Hickson, who is very much available. Portland isn't interested in making the playoffs. Hickson would definitely help the Nets at power forward. With Hickson, they don't need to sign Kenyon Martin. Who wants him, anyway? - Mitch Lawrence New York Daily News

Portland Trail Blazers, Free Agency, Trade, Kenyon Martin, JJ Hickson 

Chris Broussard: Portland asking for a 1st round pick for JJ Hickson and finding no takers so far. Twitter @Chris_Broussard

Portland Trail Blazers, Trade, JJ Hickson 

Ken Berger: Portland's effort to find a first-round pick for J.J. Hickson "doesn't look good right now," league source says. Twitter @KBergCBS

Portland Trail Blazers, Trade, JJ Hickson 

Jason Lloyd: #Cavs made offer to Sac to remove pick protections from Hickson/Casspi trade, league source said. Deal died with Sac/Hou trade last night Twitter @JasonLloydABJ

Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trail Blazers, Trade, JJ Hickson, Omri Casspi 

A spokesman for the Blazers said Wednesday that Hickson's tweets were treated as an internal matter that has been addressed. The team has a Twitter policy which it reviews with the players. Hickson is not the first person to say something considered objectionable on Twitter. But as a member of the Trail Blazers, he represents the team and the NBA. His Twitter profile says he plays for the Blazers. "I think I represent the Trail Blazers great. When I tweet, I tweet outside basketball. Like I said, it's my personal things I do and like I said, it's an opinion," he said. "I can do something good and a million people think it's something good and one person thinks it's wrong." Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, JJ Hickson 

Adrian Wojnarowski: Charlotte discussed Gerald Henderson for Timofey Mozgov (Denver) and J.J. Hickson (Portland) but talks gained no traction, sources tell Y! Twitter @WojYahooNBA

Charlotte Bobcats, Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, Trade, JJ Hickson, Timofey Mozgov, Gerald Henderson 

When I told him it didn’t seem to make sense for him to accept a trade (because he would lose his Bird rights) and I didn’t see a scenario in which a trade would happen, Hickson flashed his big pearly whites and nodded in approval. “There you go then — you just said it,” he said, laughing. “You just answered all your questions.” Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Trade, JJ Hickson 

So as Thursday’s NBA trade deadline nears, as Hickson’s name continues to surface as part of trade speculation, he’s not the least bit concerned. “I’m not going to get all hysterical about it being the trade deadline,” Hickson said. “I’ve been traded before. I’ve been waived before. This is nothing new to me.” Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Trade, JJ Hickson 

Well, not quite. What would it take for Hickson to forfeit his Bird rights and approve a trade? “It’s not a point of what it would take,” Hickson said. “I’m still a Trail Blazer right now and that’s what I have to worry about. I’m committed to Portland and this basketball team. I’m not worried about approving a trade until that comes up. If it doesn’t come up, then obviously Portland’s not willing to trade me and that’s a good thing for me. But if it does, I’ll deal with it when I cross that path.” Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Trade, JJ Hickson 

As for Thursday’s trade deadline, Hickson is approaching it as “been there, done that.” He said Tuesday night that he has not talked to Olshey about trade speculation and does not plan to. He will stay in contact with his agent, Andy Miller, to keep up on rumors. He almost certainly will hear more gossip from friends and family. But he’s been through it before, so he’s prepared. “It’s just a lot of talk,” Hickson said. “At the trade deadline, everyone kind of panics and gets into a frenzy. The media makes it into something it’s not. It’s just a matter of dealing with that situation when it gets there. Besides that, I’m just playing basketball right now.” Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Trade, JJ Hickson 

The Blazers continue to try to extract a future first-round pick for J.J. Hickson. CBSSports.com

Portland Trail Blazers, Trade, JJ Hickson 

Portland Trail Blazers forward/center J.J. Hickson acknowledged that a series of Twitter messages he sent on Valentine's Day could have been construed as offensive, but said that it wasn't his intention to offend. "I meant no harm by my tweets," Hickson said after the Blazers lost to the Phoenix Suns, 102-98, at the Rose Garden on Tuesday night. "I meant no harm in any way. I'm not that type of person to cause harm or commit harm to anyone. It's an opinion and everyone has one. It just matters what side of the fence you're on." Blazers Edge

Portland Trail Blazers, JJ Hickson