Should the Philadelphia 76ers buy low on Rodney Hood this offseason?
Prior to Game 3 of the 2018 NBA Finals, Rodney Hood had fallen out of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ rotation. He was racking up DNPs with regularity, remaining glued to the bench despite struggles from J.R. Smith and Jordan Clarkson. That’s not ideal for an impending free agent.
He did find some relief in last night’s game, with Ty Lue finally giving him an opportunity off the bench. He took advantage of it, pouring in 15 points on 7-11 shooting. Whether or not that one game can influence his free agency stock, however, is questionable.
Hood was part of several mid-season trades that reshaped the Cavs’ roster. Despite past injury problems, he was relatively successful during his tenure in Utah, averaging 16.8 points in 39 games with the Jazz this season. His numbers dropped after the trade, but that was largely due to a reduced role.
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Where Hood damaged his stock was in the postseason. In the 2018 playoffs, Hood is averaging 4.4 points per game on 15 percent shooting from three-point range, abysmal numbers from somebody who struggled to maintain playing time on a roster filled with underachieving players.
Those struggles, combined with his injury history and defensive concerns, will hurt Hood this summer. The 25-year-old is unlikely to receive any long-term deals worth significant money, opening up room for a team like the Philadelphia 76ers to make a play.
The Sixers’ summer priorities should start with LeBron James and Paul George, both of whom would elevate them to Finals contention in the Eastern Conference. Kawhi Leonard might not be available for trade, but he should be added to the list if something changes between now and July.
If the Sixers strike out on big-name acquisitions, though, somebody like Hood should be in the cards. They’ll have plenty of cap space, allowing them to shell out cash on one-year deals, much like they did last summer.
Retaining J.J. Redick should next up on the list of priorities, but Hood provides long-term upside without long-term commitment. A high-level shooter who can put the ball on the floor and create his own shot, Hood would have a clear path toward receiving significant minutes with the Sixers.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope found himself in a similar position last summer. After striking out on long-term contract offers, he accepted a one-year deal worth just over $17 million with the Lakers. Hood won’t get that much on the open market, but the philosophy behind such a deal — on both sides — would be the same.
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Hood’s foremost concerns, aside from injury, are on the defensive end. He can be a dynamic offensive threat, but lacks the effort and defensive awareness to stay on the court at times. Perhaps Brett Brown, Monty Williams and the Sixers’ coaching staff can get more out of him.
Even with his rough stretch in Cleveland, Hood shot 36.9 percent from deep on 5.1 attempts per game this season. That’s his lowest mark since the 2015-16 season, which means the floor spacing is most definitely there. Combine that with his off-the-dribble prowess, and you have a player who brings clear-cut value to the Sixers’ rotation.
Part of the Sixers’ second-round struggles against Boston were related to their lackluster wing depth. Hood doesn’t fix any defensive concerns, but he gives them another complimentary ball handler who can create in isolation and get dribble penetration when needed.
Outside of Ben Simmons and T.J. McConnell, the Sixers didn’t have perimeter pieces who could do that last season.
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The Sixers don’t need to reinvent their rotation, but they do need to add more options — especially on the perimeter. Hood, if some of their bigger free agency plans fail, could be a buy-low candidate with significant potential.