Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 players poised for breakout years in 2018-2019

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CLEVELAND, OH – MAY 4: Rodney Hood #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots the ball during practice as his team prepares for Game Three of the NBA Eastern Conference Semi-finals against the Toronto Raptors on May 5, 2018 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images /

2. Rodney Hood

Rodney Hood, still a restricted free agent for the Cavs (meaning he’ll be back unless the Cavs rescind his qualifying offer) was looked at as a potential breakout player last offseason and, in Utah, he was successful for the most part.

Averaging a career-high 16.8 points per game (21.8 points per 36 minutes) on 55.1 true shooting percentage with the Jazz last season, Hood was growing both his skill and confidence as a go-to scorer and primary playmaker in what was just his fourth season in the league.

After coming to Cleveland, Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue utilized him like his mentor Doc Rivers used to use an aged Ray Allen. As a spot-up shooter who drew attention away from the strong side (ball-handler’s side) of the floor but rarely actually received the ball when they were there.

For a player who plays better with more usage, as he’s proven throughout his career, Hood’s first step in having a breakout year will be telling the coaching staff that he was playing a role that didn’t allow him to maximize his potential.

A career-low usage rate of 18.3 wasn’t going to help him improve because for Hood, less touches doesn’t equate to less mistakes. Just less opportunity to catch fire.

The second step will be continuing the upwards trajectory of his career by bringing the same shooting touch and confidence to Cleveland that he had in Utah. In Cleveland, his famed shooting stroke seemed to leave him soon after a stellar debut with his new team; he shot 38.9 percent from three in Utah and 35.2 percent from three in Cleveland.

The final step for Hood will be dependent on the team’s success but proving that he can perform at a high-level in the postseason will go a long way towards painting him as a breakout star.

He averaged 5.4 points per game (12.6 points per 36 minutes) on a true shooting percentage of 46.8 last postseason, playing poorly until the 2018 NBA Finals (he averaged 12.5 points per game while shooting 44.0 percent from the field in Games 3 & 4).

More smart, aggressive play like the flash in the plan displayed in the Finals and less playing timid like he did in the first two rounds of the postseason will be the keys to his playoff success.