Report: Nuggets plan to buy out J.J. Hickson
Newly acquired sharpshooter Steve Novak isn't the only player whom the Denver Nuggets intend to buy out of his contract.
ESPN's Marc Stein reports the Nuggets also plan to buy out center J.J. Hickson, who's currently making $5.6 million in the final year of his deal.
If the buyout occurs prior to March 1, Hickson will be eligible to sign with another team and potentially suit up for a postseason run.
The 27-year-old Hickson has been the odd man out in a frontcourt rotation that features Kenneth Faried, Joffrey Lauvergne, Nikola Jokic, and Jusuf Nurkic. Denver was reportedly looking to move him weeks ahead of Thursday's trade deadline, but to no avail.
The only deal the Nuggets pulled the trigger on involved landing Novak, along with D.J. Augustin and two second-round picks from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Randy Foye.
Hickson has totaled just two minutes of action since Dec. 11. He's averaging 9.3 points and 7.2 rebounds during his three-year run in the Mile High City.