Around the NBA: Rodney Hood Accepts Qualifying Offer, Devin Booker to Undergo Surgery

Sunday afternoon brought two pieces of NBA news with the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Rodney Hood agreeing to a new short-term contract and the Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker being scheduled for surgery.

Shams Charania, NBA Insider for The Athletic, first announced that restricted free agent Rodney Hood has accepted a 1-year qualifying offer of $3.4 million to return to the Cavs.

Hood started last season with the Utah Jazz where he had a more featured role (averaging 16.8 PPG on 42/39/88 shooting splits in 28 MPG) before being traded as part of a midseason makeover for Cleveland. There, Hood’s production fell in less of a prominent role and he made a few waves in the postseason after refusing to enter the game in a blowout victory over the Toronto Raptors.

Hood was linked with numerous possible teams heading into free agency but after receiving no offers, Hood will opt for the qualifying offer and become an unrestricted free agent heading into the 2019-2020 season. For reference sake, Ed Davis signed with the Brooklyn Nets for $4.4 million on the first night of free agency.

The evening brought news of hand surgery for Suns guard Devin Booker, who’s expected to miss at least four weeks but is listed as out indefinitely for now, according to ArizonaSports.com’s John Gambadoro. A timetable will be better known after his surgery, according to Marc Spears and Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

A four-week absence would threaten his availability for the Suns’ season opener on Oct. 17. Training camp for Phoenix starts Sept. 25.