Hickson has been one of the best players in the 20-team summer league so far and is a candidate to win the Most Valuable Player Award.
With another strong performance in Friday's summer-league victory over Chicago, J.J. Hickson is displaying the dominating performance expected of a third-year player at the NBA's offseason competition.LAS VEGAS -- Usually what gets a lot of attention in summer league are the surprises, but often the non-surprises are the most important for the real season.
Classify what J.J. Hickson is doing for the Cavs in the Vegas Summer League as one of those positive non-surprises. As a third-year player coming off an good season in which he became a starter, the expectation is that Hickson would have his way at the event for rookies and fringe players.
He's doing just that, adding a 21-point performance Friday in the Cavs' 81-80 win over the Chicago Bulls. The Cavs came back from 16 points down and took their first lead of the game when guard Pooh Jeter hit a 3-pointer with 6.9 seconds left.
While Jeter was the hero Friday, Hickson has been one of the best players in the 20-team league so far and is a candidate to win the Most Valuable Player Award. He's averaging 24.3 points and 7.3 rebounds on 62 percent shooting. It is exactly the kind of performance the Cavs were looking for to give him confidence going into next season.
"He's supposed to be at this level," said Cavs assistant coach Paul Pressey, who is the head coach of the summer league team that is now 3-0.
"Summer league has given him an opportunity to show his skill level and show people that he's ready to go to the next level."
Hickson hasn't just put up the numbers by outjumping less-talented players, though there's been some of that too. He's shown an improving jump shot and a floater. Mostly, he's been relentless in attacking the basket.
Needing scoring, the Cavs will need Hickson so show such game in the fall.
"I know that I'm going to have a different role next season," Hickson said. "I'm just trying to get ready for it."
Free agent update: If it seems like the Cavs are casting a wide net before making their first free-agent signing ... well, they are. The club still intends to use its $5.7 million exception but there's few impact players still on the market. It is a process to judge which players may fit what is on the roster and what the cost will be.
League sources said the Cavs have recently been in contact with forward Matt Barnes. Known for his physical defensive play, Barnes averaged 8.8 points and 5.5 rebounds for the Magic last season.
The Cavs have also consistently been in contact with free-agent center Brad Miller. The team was interested in signing Miller even if LeBron James had re-signed. There are several times interested in signing Miller, who averaged 8.8 points and 4.9 rebounds for the Bulls last season.
LeBron recruiting Williams: James has already recruited Zydrunas Ilgauskas and former Cavs trainer Mike Mancias to Miami. His latest attempt, a source said, is to bring athletic forward Jawad Williams. He's a restricted free agent after averaging 4.1 points and 1.5 rebounds in 54 games last season. The Cavs are believed to be interested in re-signing Williams and can match contract offers to him.
Kaun to stay in Russia: Cavs 2008 second-round pick Sasha Kaun is not expected to sign a contract with the team for next season, sources said.
Kaun, a 7-footer from Kansas, had a breakout season for CSKA Moscow last season. He averaged 9.1 points and 4.6 rebounds in Euroleague games and 12.3 points and 5.4 rebounds in Russian League games. Had he signed, he likely would have been a rotation player next season.
Kaun has one year left on his contract with CSKA. The buyout involved in getting Kaun, plus the comparable salary the Cavs would have needed to sign him, to made it complicated to acquire him. But he will be at The Q next season. CSKA is scheduled to play a preseason game in Cleveland on Oct. 16.
McCants a no show: Former lottery pick Rashad McCants was scheduled to join the Cavs for their first summer league practice on Sunday. He did not show up and the team didn't hear a reason for days. It is now believed McCants didn't report for personal reasons, but it caught the team by surprise.
"I have not seen him; he never showed up," Pressey said. "I was kind of looking forward to seeing the guy, he's a heck of a talent."