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Rodney Hood showing real interest in signing with the Pelicans

By Quenton S. Albertie

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 3: Rodney Hood #5 of the Utah Jazz signs autograph for fan after the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on January 3, 2018 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 3: Rodney Hood #5 of the Utah Jazz signs autograph for fan after the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on January 3, 2018 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Cleveland Cavaliers restricted free agent Rodney Hood seems to want to sign with the New Orleans Pelicans this summer.

Based on his recent social media activity, Cleveland Cavaliers restricted free agent Rodney Hood seems to have significant interest in signing with the New Orleans Pelicans this summer.

Some might even say a preference.

News on Hood’s free agency has been slow, as it has been for other restricted free agents this summer. As a result, the most innocuous acts seem to speak volumes and reveal truths amidst a search for credible information on what’s been happening with one of the Cavs’ most polarizing players.

Having gone from the number one option on the Utah Jazz to the second option behind Rookie of the Year candidate Donovan Mitchell, Hood was dealt to the Cavaliers in a move that would allow the Jazz to put the ball in Mitchell’s hands even more and give the Cavaliers a player who could be a featured scorer in place of Isaiah Thomas/Kyrie Irving.

Prior to the trade to Cleveland, Hood was averaging 16.8 points on 14.2 field goal attempts per game, shooting 42.4 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from three.

A bit unorthodox in his technique, Hood had shown himself to be dangerous in the pick-and-roll, in isolation situations, as a three-point threat and in the post. His dedication to defense and his maturity were questioned in Utah but once he arrived in Cleveland, there were different concerns.

Under Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue, Hood’s role and usage would fluctuate while injuries had him in and out of the lineup for the remainder of the regular season.

He performed solidly but nowhere near the level he had shown but himself capable of in Utah, in no small part because Lue opted to use him off-ball the vast majority of the time. Despite Lue saying he’s wanted players to play their game, he never put Hood in a position to play his game in the regular season.

For the Cavaliers, Hood averaged 10.8 points on 9.5 field goal attempts per game while shooting 44.2 percent from the field and 35.2 percent from three. His three-point attempt rate would drop from 47.5 percent of his attempts in Utah to 35.7 percent of his attempts in Cleveland while his usage rate dropped from 27.3 percent (with Utah) to 18.3 percent (with Cleveland).

The playoffs were an unsavory moment in Hood’s career as he found himself benched after his first start, a decent though unspectacular 9-point outing, and he steadily lost his confidence as the postseason wore on due to the outside noise. He was benched by the end of the Eastern Conference semifinals and getting in at the ends of games to reestablish his rhythm— except for that one game that he didn’t go in after rookie Cedi Osman took his minutes, an act that he had to make amends for.

It wasn’t until Game 3 of the 2018 NBA Finals that he would be back in the rotation and in that appearance he would notch 15 points, 6 rebounds and 1 block in spectacular fashion while having moments where he played fine defense against Warriors superstars Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant.

He remained aggressive had a near double-double in Game 4 with 10 points and 8 rebounds, then added 2 assists, 2 steals and 1 block as well.

That is the story of Hood’s season and the roller coaster ride that’s left teams wondering just how much he’s worth.

In late June, Jordan Schultz of Yahoo Sports reported the Pelicans — along with the Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers — as teams with interest in Hood. Earlier this week, Schultz reported that the Bulls and Sacramento Kings — who missed out on Chicago Bulls shooting guard Zach Lavine — were still interested.

The Bulls and Pacers, who signed playmaker Tyreke Evans, would seem to need far less help on the wings than the Pelicans, Kings or Cavs.

Despite Hood’s seeming interest in the Pelicans, they’re only able to offer him the non-taxpayers mid-level exception ($8.6 million).

That’s far less than the Kings, who have $19.5 million in cap space and by offered Lavine a contract worth $80 million over four years, could offer and one that the Cavs (who can match any offer for Hood) would likely match.

Hood could opt to sign his $3.5 million qualifying offer and sign with the Pelicans, or another team, as an unrestricted free agent after boosting his market value on a post-LeBron Cavs roster. It would be a bold move that could pay off handsomely, especially considering the salary cap is set to raise by $7 million next summer.

The Pelicans, in fact, could clear up to $22 million in cap room next offseason without trades.

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The Cavs, and their fans up with Hood’s interest in New Orleans, a playoff-caliber team with a widely respected head coach, a defined role and a southern culture the Mississippi-native would enjoy.

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