The Cleveland Cavaliers went full throttle with several major moves ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline that saw a slew of new players added to the mix.
One of which is veteran guard Rodney Hood, who was acquired in the blockbuster three-team trade involving the Sacramento Kings and Utah Jazz. In this deal, the Cavaliers sent forward Jae Crowder and point guard Derrick Rose to the Jazz in exchange for guard Rodney Hood, meanwhile forward Joe Johnson was shipped to the Kings in exchange for George Hill.
This move has opened up the opportunity for Hood to be a major impact player for the Cavaliers. According to Alex Kennedy of Hoops Hype, several players around the league have already voiced that they believe that the 25-year-old has the potential to make his presence felt in Cleveland.
I've talked to quite a few players in the last 30 minutes, asking for their thoughts on the trades. Nearly every player said to keep an eye on Rodney Hood in Cleveland. Hood's peers really respect his game. The general consensus is that he'll be a difference-maker for the Cavs.
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) February 8, 2018
Through his four seasons in the league, Hood has progressively developed into a dependable scorer both in the starting lineup and off the bench. He has shown just that this season playing in both roles as he’s currently averaging a career-high 16.8 points on 42.4 percent shooting from the field and 38.9 percent from beyond the arc. He has scored in double figures 33 times this year, which includes eight 20-point outings and three notching more than 30 points.
Much of that offensive production has come off the bench as his three 30-point outings have come off the bench, which made him the first Jazz players to have multiple 30+ scoring efforts off the bench in a single season since Thurl Bailey had four in the 1988-89 season. Although injuries have limited his playing time this season, he has shown to be more than a reliable scorer.
Hood will have a chance to latch onto a significant offensive role in Cleveland that could see him either come off the bench or start as one of the primary contributors in the backcourt.