No. 2 – JJ Hickson
Hickson remains the most curious signing of the Tim Connelly era with the Nuggets. Hickson is an undersized big man who struggles defensively against centers and doesn’t quite have the offensive skills you would want out of a power forward in today’s NBA. Hickson averaged a double-double for the Trailblazers in 2012-13 when he was a starter, but has found himself filling a bench role for the Nuggets.
One area the Nuggets are the deepest at is big men. They have a lot of youth at center with Jusuf Nurkic and Nikola Jokic. At the four, Hickson is not only behind Kenneth Faried, but Gallinari will see a lot more action in that position with Michael Malone returning to a run-and-gun style of offense. The Nuggets are also very high on second year prospect Joffrey Lauvergne.
Much like Foye, Hickson is entering the final year of his deal making him expendable. His signing never made sense from day one, and now Connelly will be in position to correct that mistake by shipping Hickson out of town.
