Rodney Hood accepted the one-year $3.4 million qualifying offer made by Cleveland Cavaliers and ended his restricted free agency, placing a bet for a big season in the current year for himself. He informed about his decision on Sunday, a source said to Cleveland.com. The 25-year-old 6-8 forward will remain an unrestricted free agent in the next summer. He dropped a multiyear deal offered by Cavaliers worth nearly $7 million for each season by accepting the club’s qualifying offer.
As per sources, Hood was looking for a contract that was over $90 million each season from the Cavaliers. As compared to this offer, the Celtics signed a 4-year deal worth $52 million with restricted free agent Marcus Smart this summer while the Kings signed a 4-year deal worth $78 million with Zach LaVine.
According to a few NBA insiders, it was due to Hoods’ postseason struggles for the Cavaliers that cost him that kind of offer money. He has an average of 5.4 points on .167 shooting from 3 point range in the 2018 playoffs. After Hood started Game 1 of a first-round series against the Pacers, he went out of coach Tyronn Lue’s order for the rotation completely. He came back in there when all the other players failed to perform well for Lue for the last 2 games of the Finals.
In his four pro seasons, Hood has averaged 13 points and 3 rebounds, which is mostly with the Utah Jazz. He was having a good career year with the Jazz before the team traded him to the Cavaliers, averaging 16.8 points. Hood is a career .419 shooter from the field as well as .369 from 3 point range.
With Hood making an official comeback, he is now expected to be a player who would replace veteran departed Cavaliers player LeBron James at the starting power forward position.
