Contract talks between the Cavaliers and restricted free agent Rodney Hood have stalled for the time being, a source familiar with the negotiations tells Jordan Schultz of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link). According to Schultz, Hood seems to be seeking a short-term deal that he feels is “fair,” but the Cavs have yet to put an offer on the table that he deems acceptable.
The Cavaliers appear to have earmarked a roster spot and a portion of team salary below the luxury-tax threshold for Hood, but have been unable to find common ground with one of the last two restricted free agents on the market. A recent report indicated that Cleveland is interested in re-signing Hood to a three-year deal — it’s not clear if that would work for the 25-year-old or if he’s seeking an even shorter term in order to return to free agency sooner.
Hood’s leverage is limited due to the lack of viable suitors left for him around the NBA. The Kings are the only team with significant cap room still available, but Sacramento has 15 players on guaranteed contracts and seems unlikely to make a play for the Cavs swingman at this point.
Hood can’t even realistically seek an offer sheet worth the full mid-level exception, since only two teams still hold that $8.641MM exception — one is the Cavs and one is the Jazz, who reportedly don’t have interest in a reunion with their former first-round pick.
The threat of signing his one-year, $3.47MM qualifying offer may help improve Hood’s position in negotiations, since he’ll be in line for a larger role in Cleveland in 2018/19 and could increase his stock in time for unrestricted free agency next summer. Still, taking that path would be a risk for Hood, since there’s no guarantee he’ll get better multiyear offers in 2019 than what the Cavs are offering now.
I’d take that risk… let him earn it.
Of course Utah aren’t interested in a reunion, they just managed to get rid of him, why on earth would they want him back? For that matter why would Cleveland offer him more than the 3.5MM qualifying offer, he can accept it or go, anyway he only plays when he wants so why pay him big $$$.
If they like the player, then they should do what it takes to avoid him coming back on QO or any 1 year deal. There are ways of doing a 2 year contract that get to almost the same place financially and don’t carry the restrictions.
If he wants short term deal, probably could be a 2 year deal with a team option like Parker, although it’s hard to judge whether he has more value than Parker.
I agree. He made his bed when he refused to go in the game during a 4th Q. I believe he’s a young talented wing player, but he has to prove that he can behave and want to play consistently. Cavs don’t need to put themselves out on a limb as I also believe they’re in the driver’s seat. I hope the best for the kid as he’s got some talent, but I believe he’s a system player.
Seems like the expectations of what he thinks he is worth vs what the Cavs (and by the looks of it, the rest if the NBA) think he is really worth is quite significantly large. Bet Hood’s thinking “if I had only entered that 4th quarter now….”
They should offer him 2 years at somewhere between $8-12 million per with a 3rd year option. If he doesnt take that, let him take the QO
I feel like he wouldn’t accept anything less than 15 min per year if it comes with a team option.
Hood averaged 17ppg in Utah. A lot of players have had trouble playing with LeBron, especially young ones. The Cavs want Hood back because they know he can score. Obviously Hood doesn’t want to return to Cleveland, and I don’t blame him. Unfortunately he’s the last decent free agent out there, and nobody has cap space, so like Clint Capela. Hood has the option of doing what LeBron’s buddies, J.R. and Tristan did, and hold out. If he wants out of Cleveland, it looks like his only option is to take the qualifying offer.
I read Hood really wants to go to New Orleans and may do that after next season if he takes the qualifying offer.