CLEVELAND: With one homecoming out of the way, the Cavaliers will prepare to welcome another former player back to Quicken Loans Arena today — although it’s doubtful anyone cares whether or not J.J. Hickson feels he could play for the Cavs again one day.
The Cavs will host Hickson and the Sacramento Kings tonight. It will be Hickson’s first game back since the Cavs traded him to the Kings for Omri Casspi and a conditional first-round pick.
Both Casspi and Hickson have struggled miserably in their new environments.
Hickson is coming off the bench and averaging 5.2 points and 5.4 rebounds. Casspi is starting for the Cavs, but averaging just 7.8 points and 3.2 rebounds.
Cavs coach Byron Scott has stuck with Casspi in the starting lineup despite struggles at both ends of the floor, although both Scott and Casspi believe he’s showing improvement defensively.
“In situations like this, sometimes it takes six months to a year before he adjusts,” Scott said. “That’s where Omri is with us. He’s still adjusting, but he’s getting better. Plus he’s a kid that wants to work hard and wants to get better.”
Casspi is shooting 42 percent from the floor, but just 31 percent on 3-pointers. He sometimes falls in love with perimeter shots and at times has let his offensive struggles affect his defensive responsibilities.
Casspi conceded on Saturday that the adjustment to joining the Cavs has been difficult and took longer than he expected, but Scott has finally convinced him not to worry about the offensive woes, but to instead focus in defensively.
“I’m trying to take pride in defense,” Casspi said. “The offense will come eventually.”
As for Hickson, his mental lapses that irritated both Scott and Mike Brown are continuing in Sacramento. He was yanked from the game midway through the second quarter Friday night at Detroit, chewed out on the bench by coach Keith Smart and left to sit there the rest of the night.
Scott and Hickson clashed early last season, but Scott said Saturday he had no problems with Hickson personally and by the midpoint of last season, the two had worked out their differences.
The Cavs traded him because of the uncertainty surrounding last summer’s lockout and they weren’t comfortable paying him the type of money Hickson was seeking in free agency. Based on how this season has started, Hickson still isn’t going to get paid like he thought.
As for who got the better end of the deal, Casspi said more time has to pass.
“It’s still early in the season to make conclusions,” he said. “I think both of us are trying to find our way on new teams. Both of us are working hard and trying to improve and find our way. Make the conclusions at the end of the year.”
Injury update
Daniel Gibson worked out his sprained left ankle on Saturday and felt it loosened up during the workout, but Scott is leaving him as questionable for tonight’s game.
Anthony Parker is still trying to work his way back from a sore back, but he is out for the game and Scott hinted he might just stay out until after next weekend’s All-Star break.
“A lot of that would depend on him,” Scott said, “but it probably wouldn’t hurt.”
Semih Erden’s left wrist was a little sore after suffering a contusion on it Friday night, but Scott expects him to start against the Kings.
Jason Lloyd can be reached at jlloyd@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Cavs blog at http://cavs.ohio.com Follow him on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/JasonLloydABJ. Follow ABJ sports on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/sports.abj.
