Rodney Hood is set to be an unrestricted free agent in the offseason, but with his name emerging in trade talks, it might not be Utah that is bidding to retain his services this summer.
According to The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor, Hood has drawn interest from a number of teams in the market for a scoring wing. Hood’s production has made him an attractive piece for a team to acquire ahead of the season’s final stretch. In entertaining offers for Hood, the Jazz appear to be heading in a different direction, while Hood is set for a large payday during the 2018 free agency period.
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Provided Hood does not elect to play out the final season of his rookie contract under a qualifying offer, the team that makes a play to acquire him would essentially be making a move to include Hood in their long-term plans.
Two teams that have inquired about Hood are the Pistons and Bulls. The Pistons made headlines with the report that they have put Avery Bradley's name in the trade rumor mill, while the Bulls and Jazz have been linked in trade rumblings surrounding Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic. Because of Hood’s contract figures, Utah might need to add a player with an expiring contract like Derrick Favors or Joe Johnson to make a deal work.
In the first season since losing All-Star Gordon Hayward to free agency, Hood has averaged 16.7 points per game for the Jazz; his scoring is up four points from his average of 12.7 in the 2016-17 season. In addition to increased scoring, Hood is shooting a career-high 38.6 percent from 3-point range this season. Hood’s production has come at a relatively affordable price, as he’s making $2.3 million in the final year of his rookie deal.
Hayward’s departure has forced Utah to enter into a slight rebuilding mode. A draft-day trade resulted in the Jazz selecting stellar rookie Donovan Mitchell with the 13th overall pick. Mitchell has led all rookies in scoring with 19.2 points per game this season. Behind the play of Mitchell and Hood, the Jazz find themselves ahead of the rebuilding curve at 21-28.
The Jazz, currently 10th in the West, are five games back of the eighth seed. Moving Hood wouldn't signal a Sixers-style teardown, but it could set Utah back enough to land a high pick in a loaded 2018 draft.
Will the Jazz will sell high or low when gauging offers for Hood, or will they ultimately decide to stand pat? They will have to decide by the Feb. 8 trade deadline.
