After being the subject of trade rumors over the past few months, guard Rodney Hood was traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday.
Despite spending just under a year in the Cleveland area while playing for the Cavaliers, Hood offered a classy farewell on social media while looking ahead to his new challenge.
I’m ready for what’s next! Portland I’m on the way! #ripcity 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
— Rodney Hood (@rodneyhood) February 4, 2019
Hood was acquired by the Cavaliers last February from the Utah Jazz as part of the team’s midseason overhaul. With the 11-42 Cavaliers now in complete rebuilding mode and Hood’s looming free agency after the season, his tenure with the team was limited and his new destination was determined when the trade was announced.
When the Cavs acquired Hood, he had a reputation of being inconsistent on the court. That became evident during his early play, and along with injuries, helped severely limit his contributions to the team. During Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, he also sparked controversy when he refused to enter the game.
He was a restricted free agent last July, but after receiving little to no interest from other teams, he accepted the Cavaliers’ qualifying offer of $3.4 million for this season. That allowed him to not only become an unrestricted free agent this July, but also afforded him the chance to veto trades that didn’t appeal to his interest.
The Cavaliers ended up getting second-round selections from the Trail Blazers in both 2021 and 2023, along with the expiring contracts of guards Nik Stauskas and Wade Baldwin IV.
