The Cleveland Cavaliers traded away some pieces at the trade deadline to get younger with the trio of Rodney Hood, Jordan Clarkson, and Larry Nance Jr. alongside veteran George Hill. So far, the trio has dealt with a number of injuries that have prevented them from building chemistry as a healthy unit heading into the playoffs, but they’re currently looking to do so with about three weeks remaining in the regular season.
Rodney Hood, who is in the fourth year of his rookie deal, will be hitting restricted free agency this summer. That means he’ll get a qualifying offer from the Cavs, and then any offer sheet that he signs in free agency could be matched by the Cavs. Judging by the huge haul they gave up to get him and the potential to be a solid role player with the Cavs moving forward, it’s likely that the Cavs retain him. If he doesn’t sign an offer sheet, and decides to possibly bet on himself for a bigger contract, he could accept the Cavs’ qualifying offer and then hit un restricted free agency in the summer of 2019.
According to Bobby Marks of ESPN, Hood’s qualifying offer could have been $4.7 million for the 2018-19 season, but because his latest absence due to injury decreased that to $3.4 million. Here’s Marks’ explanation:
Before his recent back injury, Rodney Hood was on pace to reach the starter criteria for his 2018 qualifying offer. Had Hood averaged 41 games over the 2016-17 and 2017-18 season, the qualifying offer this summer would have been $4.7M. With his role now coming off the bench the last 2 games, the qualifying offer is now $3.4M.
Hood needed to average 41 starts over the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons. In 2016-17, Hood started 55 games with the Utah Jazz, but has only started 17 games this season (12 starts with the Jazz in 39 appearances, five with the Cavs in 13 appearances). With just nine games remaining and 72 total starts, Hood would fall one game short of the 82 total starts he would need even if he were to start every game the rest of the way for Cleveland.
This might not even end up being a big deal if Hood secures a solid deal in free agency this summer, but it is something to think about.