Rodney Hood receiving free agency interest from multiple teams

The Cleveland Cavaliers will have stiff competition for Rodney Hood this summer.

According to Yahoo Sports’ Jordan Schultz, Cleveland Cavaliers swingman Rodney Hood — who will become a restricted free agent if the Cavs extend a qualifying offer of $3.5 million to him — has received interest from multiple teams who wish to sign him this offseason.

The teams currently in the mix for Hood are the Chicago Bulls, the Indiana Pacers, the New Orleans Pelicans and the Cavs.

Talking to Hood in the offseason, he made it clear that he wanted to play for a team that would allow him to be a featured player in the offense or, in his words, “rock out.”

If that’s the case, then the teams that offer him the best chance to have a featured role are the Bulls, followed by the Pacers, a LeBron James-less Cavs team and the Pelicans.

The Bulls, who are letting guard Zach Lavine test the restricted free agent market after an unremarkable season, are a team that will need help on the wings with a core of Kris Dunn (who is not the strongest jump shooter) along with big men Lauri Markannen and Wendell Carter Jr.

They’ll also have up to $39 million in cap space this offseason, so Hood could get paid in a major way as well.

The Pacers have found a leader in the 2017-2018’s Most Improved Player, shooting guard Victor Oladipo. However, they have no go-to scorer outside of Oladipo, especially after declining to bring back guard Lance Stephenson.

They’ll have up to $12 million in cap space barring a trade.

The Pelicans, unlike the Cavs, will certainly bring back two All-Star caliber players. They could have three if DeMarcus Cousins. Then they also have to account for Nikola Mirotic’s touches.

The most they can offer is $8.5 million per year (non-taxpayer mid-level exception).

The Cavs, barring an unforeseen trade, will bring back two All-Stars at most in James and Kevin Love. However, scoring-minded rookie point guard Collin Sexton and a scoring-minded second unit guard in Jordan Clarkson make Hood’s role on the team questionable if James re-signs.

If he doesn’t, the Cavs could need Hood almost as much as the Bulls. However, if they don’t make him a restricted free agent (which they must do by July 21st), the most they can offer Hood is $5.3 million (taxpayers mid-level exception).

It’s unclear what Cavs general manager Koby Altman feels like Hood’s value is but he’ll likely need to make a qualifying offer to Hood to have any chance at re-signing him.

From there, Hood will have to decide if he feels he’ll have a better chance of solidifying himself in the league by fighting for championships with a LeBron-led Cavs team and trying to prove himself as their third option or taking on a featured role with a team like the Bulls, Pacers, Pelicans or a LeBron-less Cavs team.

He’ll also have to decide what coaching staff he trusts and feels most desired by.

Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg’s? Pacers head coach Nate McMillan’s? Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry’s?

Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue, who wanted to start Hood last season and has routinely mentioned him this offseason despite his contract status being up in the air?

The 25-year-old Hood is an unorthodox scorer with great length at 6-foot-8 but is prone to moodiness.

He averaged 14.7 points per game (in 26.9 minutes per game) on 42.9 percent shooting from the field and 38.1 percent shooting from deep last season before averaging 5.4 points per game (in 15.3 minutes per game) on 42.4 percent shooting from the field and 16.7 percent shooting from three in the postseason.

His most impressive postseason showing and redemption game came in Game 3 of the 2018 NBA Finals (15 points on 7-11 shooting from the field, 6 rebounds and 1 block).

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*All stats gathered from www.basketball-reference.com