Is Rodney Hood the next Victor Oladipo?

How does Hood resemble Oladipo?

There are similarities between Hood and Oladipo’s situations and play-styles.

The Thunder acquired Oladipo to form a talented and athletic backcourt with Westbrook that would strengthen their position to keep Kevin Durant. Of course, the story goes that Durant breaks their hearts, Westbrook averages a triple-double in his wake, and Oladipo receives limited touches and gets overshadowed by 2017 MVP’s immense 42% usage rate

The Cavs traded for Hood at the deadline to add an energized playmaker to their wilting crew. Before, Hood hovered between a first or second option on offense with Donovan Mitchell. Upon arrival in Cleveland, he was clearly the third option behind LeBron James and Kevin Love.

Hood’s usage rate dropped from 27.3% in Utah to 18.3% as a Cavalier. Only averaging two less minutes per game, his numbers also dropped from 16.8 ppg on 38.9% from deep to 10.8 ppg on 35.2%.

Donovan Mitchell was the only Jazz player to finish the season with a higher usage rate than Hood (29.1%), while Cavs James (31.6%), Love (25.1%), Dwyane Wade (24.3%), Jordan Clarkson (24.1%), and Jeff Green (19.3%) had higher rates.

Cleveland Cavaliers

For Oladipo, his usage rate dropped only one percent from Orlando to Oklahoma City, but his role next to Westbrook was unsuited for him. The Thunder and many others thought Oladipo would produce best in a straightforward role. They parked the streaky shooter in the corner and gave him few chances facilitate.

As a Pacer, Oladipo was given much more freedom to make plays himself. As his usage rate ballooned from 21.4% to 30.1%, he found a better flow and rhythm for his mid- and long-range pull-ups.

It should be stated that Indiana didn’t know anything more than anyone else with him. They were forced to discover Oladipo: “The Pacers were free of those factors in a way that the Thunder weren’t [having an elite perimeter player like Westbrook], making the unleashing of Oladipo… a pragmatic reality.”

Rodney Hood has already proven that with increased usage and freedom, he can be a productive first-option on the perimeter. Right now, it is unclear how much responsibility Cleveland will give their rookie Collin Sexton in the offense. For a team that wants to remain competitive with its now lone All-Star, Hood may be the best perimeter scorer they have.

The Cavs likely feel it’s worth taking a chance on Hood to see if an increased role will knock him back into his Jazzy self. Giving him more responsibility is almost a non-risk because, well, who else can they put there? Lebron, Wade, and Green are gone while Clarkson probably earned himself a lesser role following his playoff run.

Unleashing Hood may be the smartest option for Cleveland.

Though there are similarities, there are also differences in their games that keep Oladipo and Hood from being perfect parallels.

While both gifted slashers inside and shooters from beyond the arc, Oladipo is much more gifted at pulling up from out there than Hood. This makes Oladipo’s speed and finishing ability that much more deadly because defenders must stay close whenever he enters half-court.

Oladipo has also been a more willing passer throughout his career than Hood. He seems able to run an offense more consistently.

The biggest differences between their games is defense. Oladipo has always carried a reputation as a staunch defender who can rack up steals. He is a plus-player on that end of the floor. Hood, at 6’8, has great length as a forward but has yet to emerge as a true stopper. He has the tools, everyone just has to hope he learns how to use them more effectively.