Hood’s Contract Holds Trade Value for Trail Blazers

Rodney Hood’s return to the floor after last year’s Achilles injury has gotten off to an uninspiring start. Through 27 appearances with the Trail Blazers this season, Hood is averaging 4.9 points per game and shooting 36.4 percent from the field.

Hood’s slow start captured the attention of Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz inside his league-wide look at less-than-ideal contracts. For the Blazers, Hood’s newly-signed extension earned the title of Portland’s worst contract.

Swartz pointed to Hood’s lagging efficiency numbers in his analysis.

His efficiency has plummeted this season, with his scoring down to just 11th overall on the team despite being the Blazer’s fifth-highest paid player.

Portland has been getting killed in his minutes (minus-11.2 on/off rating), with only Harry Giles III and Anfernee Simons registering worse swings.

Regardless of his slow start, Swartz did highlight that Hood’s contract structure (that includes a non-guaranteed salary next season) could have value in the pre-deadline trade market.

Don’t be surprised if the Blazers use Hood to help match salaries in a trade at the deadline, as his $10.9 million salary for next season is non-guaranteed.

You can check out the full league-wide assessment from Swartz at Bleacher Report.