Eggers: Blazers Coach Terry Stotts Says J.J. Hickson "Earned The Right" To Be Pre-Camp Starter

Earlier this week, Portland Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts announced his pre-camp starting five: Damian Lillard, Wesley Matthews, Nicolas Batum, LaMarcus Aldridge and J.J. Hickson.

Kerry Eggersof thePortland Tribunehasthese thoughts from Stottson Hickson's role as the potential starting center.

J.J. Hickson has a leg up on the starting center spot. Stotts won't say this directly, but the inference is that the 6-9, 240-pound four-year vet - who joined the Blazers at midseason last year and was about all the team had going down the stretch - is the man to beat.

"I'm not going to say who the starter will be; that's what training camp is for," Stotts says. "But I don't want to dismiss what J.J. did for the team last year. He earned the right to come in and have that position to start camp. He earned a (one-year free-agent) contract, he earned minutes and the team played well with him on the court. That works in his favor.

"J.J.'s not the prototypical center, but he complements LaMarcus (Aldridge) well. He's a big guy, strong and athletic, and what he can do defensively against pick-and-rolls with his athleticism will help us."

Stotts已经previously indicatedthat rookie center Meyers Leonard will start "if he's ready."

Training campbegins next Tuesday.

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com |Twitter