NBA Free Agency 2018: 5 offseason targets for the Sacramento Kings
5. Rodney Hood
Would this not be an especially Kingsy signing? “Hey guys look, we got Rodney Hood, he scored 17 points per game in Utah last season!!” All jokes aside, Rodney Hood might’ve lost himself more money than any player that appeared in the 2018 Playoffs. Until the dying embers of Golden State’s drubbing of Cleveland in the Finals, Hood was a total non-factor for the Cavaliers.
Two short years ago, Rodney Hood looked like one of the steals of the 2014 Draft. He seemed poised to take up mantle from Draymond Green as the guy that executives across the league would rue passing on. For all his stretches of brilliance, Hood has rarely sustained a high level of play for extended periods of time. Frequent injuries have doubtlessly contributed to his inconsistency. But Hood just seems to have some of the trick or treat DNA of guys like J.R. Smith and Jeff Green (both of whom were ironically his teammates!). He can go invisible for a full week and then nail seven 3-pointers in a game.
Hood’s recent stint in Cleveland was the most conspicuous slump of his career, which is of course alarming. Joining a team with high expectations that’s remodeling on the fly isn’t easy though. Hood has some serious talent, particularly on the offensive end of the floor. He has a nice stroke from deep and he can finish well at the rim and in the tricky floater range. The Kings have few basically nobody on their current roster with that skill set. Hood is a problem on the defensive end of the floor though. Despite a 6’8 body frame, he has a short wingspan for his height. That hinders Hood’s ability to defend forwards effectively.
Although Hood is a restricted free agent, he might actually be gettable this summer. Given LeBron’s impending free agency, Cleveland’s roster could be in flux soon. If James leaves, Cleveland will almost certainly try to dodge the tax. That could pave the way for a team to scoop up Hood if the Cavs become dead set on cutting costs. Hood has a few clear flaws and his recent struggles have raised serious doubts about his ability to grow as a player. At a low price though, he’s worth a gamble. The guy can create his own shot, especially within the arc. That’s a valuable skill for a team that perpetually falls towards the bottom of the league in offensive productivity. If they could get lock him up on a short-term deal at something close to $5-$7 million, the Kings should take a chance on Hood.