According to reports, the Utah Jazz have traded swingman Rodney Hood, 25, to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-team deal with the Sacramento Kings. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN was first to break the news:
Utah has traded Rodney Hood to Cleveland, league source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 8, 2018
Cleveland has also acquired Kings guard George Hill in the trade, per Wojnarowski. The deal will see Utah’s Joe Johnson head to the Kings, while Cleveland’s Derrick Rose and Jae Crowder go to the Jazz. The Cavs also send guard Iman Shumpert to Sacramento.
Utah will also send Joe Johnson to Sacramento, and Cleveland will send Jae Crowder and Derek Rose to Utah, league sources tell ESPN. Sacramento sends George Hill to the Cavs.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 8, 2018
Cleveland sends Iman Shumpert to Kings in deal, league source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 8, 2018
Utah Jazz Trade Rodney Hood to Cleveland in Three-Team, Six-Player Deal
To recap:
- Cleveland acquires Rodney Hood and George Hill, dealing Iman Shumpert, Derrick Rose, and Jae Crowder
- Sacramento acquires Joe Johnson and Iman Shumpert, dealing George Hill
- Utah acquires Derrick Rose and Jae Crowder, dealing Rodney Hood and Joe Johnson
Hood is averaging a career-high 16.7 points per game this season. He’s also shooting a career-high 38.6 percent from beyond the arc, making 2.7 threes per game. Hood has had some injury issues in the past. He played just 50 games in his rookie season and just 59 in the 2016-17 season due to various injuries, most notably to his right knee. However, Hood did manage to play in 79 games during the 2015-16 season, starting all of them. He’s already missed 15 games this season, so Hood will look to get healthy again with his new team.
Hood can provide dynamic scoring and floor spacing on the wing for the Cavs. His shooting and ability to create off the dribble will open things up on offense. Defensively, Hood has potential because of his length, and he can develop into a difference maker. If he remains healthy more often, Hood can become a terrific two-way player at both the shooting guard and small forward spots for Cleveland. He’s already a solid one.
Hill will step into the starting point guard role for the Cavs, who just sent point guard Isaiah Thomas, along with big man Channing Frye, to the Los Angeles Lakers for Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr.
Utah sheds salary, as Hood will be a restricted free agent this summer and the Jazz did not want to re-sign him for big money. Sacramento does the same, dumping Hill’s large contract and freeing up playing time for their younger players. Johnson will be a free agent for the Kings in the upcoming off-season, while Shumpert only has one year remaining on his contract after this season.
Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports later reported that Utah will waive Rose, who has suffered numerous major injuries in the past few years after winning the 2011 MVP award. Marc Stein of the New York Times reported that, if he clears waivers, Rose may reunite with his former head coach, Tom Thibodeau; Thibodeau is in charge of the Minnesota Timberwolves‘ basketball operations.
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