![]() Of course, if Cleveland is set on bringing back Hood no matter what, there’s nothing the Heat will be able to do about it considering the Cavs’ ownership over his restricted free-agent rights (especially likely if a certain superstar small forward ends up on another team this offseason).īut if for whatever reason, Cleveland decides they want to move on from the 6-foot-8 wing, Miami going after him on a two-year, $17.2 million deal could be possible.Īnother playoff team that could use more scoring on the wing, the Indiana Pacers could also make sense as a landing spot for Hood.Īfter the jump Victor Oladipo made this past year, Indiana’s highest priority this offseason should be finding the explosive 2-guard some help on the wing. Landing another wing, especially a youngish one like Hood who was having a great year before a move to Cleveland, could be a worthwhile gamble for Miami. Josh Richardson, the team’s current starter at the 3, is more of a natural 2-guard. James Johnson is better suited to play small-ball power forward. What’s more, outside of Justise Winslow, Miami has a lack of true wings on the roster. Considering Waiters has missed 88 of a possible 162 games over the past two seasons, it may be something the Heat need to plan for at this point. ![]() Though Waiters is set to return next season, thus lessening the need for an expert in isolation basketball, Hood could still be another option in case the mercurial shooting guard is forced to miss more time with injury. In the postseason, which only lasted five games for the Heat before being eliminated by the Philadelphia 76ers, Miami’s points-scored-per-100-possession mark fell to a paltry 101.6. Lacking a player who could break down opposing defenses one-on-one, Miami’s offense would sputter on most nights, and was the primary reason why the team finished the regular season ranked 20th in offensive rating at 104.5 points per 100 possessions. Once Dion Waiters went down last season, the Heat’s remaining roster struggled with shot-making both late in shot-clock situations and late in games overall. Interest in the Mississippi native will be there, just likely not for the high-dollar amount that he assuredly was hoping for heading into the last year of his rookie contract.īelow, we break down four potential landing spots for the former Duke Blue Devil.Ī team with playoff aspirations in need of more size on the wing and another player who can create their own shot, the Miami Heat could be an interesting as a Hood suitor.Īll they’d be able to offer is the standard mid-level exception, but considering how Hood’s season ended, it may be enough to lure the Duke product to South Florida. Nevertheless, Hood is still just 25 and has flashed impressive potential as a two-way wing at different points in his career. Though he did prove he could put up solid numbers early in the season, his complete drop-off when placed into a more pressure-packed situation with Cleveland will certainly concern potential suitors. Now, set to his restricted free agency after the up-and-down year he had, it’s nearly impossible to get a read on Hood’s market. ![]() And things only managed to get worse once the playoffs arrived. As a member of the Cavs, the big shooting guard averaged 10.8 points per outing while shooting just 35.2 percent from beyond the arc. Then came the mid-year trade to the trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and it all fell apart.įollowing the move, Hood’s numbers plummeted across the board. Over 39 contests with the Utah Jazz, 27 of them coming as a reserve, Hood was averaging a career-high in nightly points (16.8) and three-pointers (2.6), as well as in three-point accuracy (38.9 percent). Midway through last season, Rodney Hood looked well on his way to establishing himself as an elite sixth man prior to reaching a very important summer, one in which he would hit free agency for the first time. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |