Day: September 10, 2018

Cavs re-sign Rodney Hood

LeBron James is gone from Cleveland, but at least Rodney Hood is back.

That’s not really the same thing. But it’s the offseason, and now is the time to type silly things.

The Cavaliers re-signed Hood today, after originally extending a qualifying offer to him way back on June 29, 2018.

Hood is a solid contributor. A good member of a supporting cast, and a player who can do more than he showed last season in Cleveland. But the Cavs are in rebuilding mode. That’s what happens when LeBron leaves a team. Kevin Love can put up points and rebounds but isn’t about to carry a squad. This is a team in transition, and it will take multiple seasons to transform.

In 21 games (11 starts) with Cleveland last season, Hood averaged 10.8 points and 2.6 rebounds in 25.3 minutes per game. He was acquired by the Cavaliers from the Utah Jazz as part of a three-team trade on Feb. 8, 2018. On the season in 2017-18, Hood averaged 14.7 points and 2.8 rebounds in 26.9 minutes per game over 60 contests (23 starts) with Utah and Cleveland. Hood also appeared in 17 playoff games (one start) during the Cavaliers’ 2018 NBA Finals run, averaging 5.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in 15.3 minutes per contest.

The 6-8 guard out of Duke was originally selected by the Jazz with the 23rd overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. He owns career averages of 13.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 27.5 minutes per game over 248 total contests (178 starts). He has appeared in the playoffs in two seasons, averaging 6.8 points and 2.2 rebounds in 19.2 minutes per game over 28 postseason contests (one start) with Utah and Cleveland.

On Mavericks big-man Dwight Powell

Here’s the Dallas Morning News reporting on Mavs forward-center Dwight Powell, who plays solid basketball when given some minutes, but still faces an uphill battle to get increased playing time:

On Mavericks big-man Dwight Powell

The big question regarding Powell is whether or not he can continue to prosper in a reserve role. It’s unlikely that he will become a regular starter in the coming season, given the Mavericks’ makeup. He’ll be playing behind DeAndre Jordan, Harrison Barnes and Dirk Nowitzki on the front line, which puts him in competition with Salah Mejri, Maxi Kleber and Dorian Finney-Smith for playing time. What the Mavericks need is for Powell to continue to be a rebounding beast per minute played, like he was at the end of last season. If he does that, his offense will continue to come and playing time will not be a problem.

Full article

Devin Booker undergoes hand surgery

The Suns signed young star scoring guard Devin Booker to a big extension this summer. But he reportedly has something important to take care of before starting the 2018-19 NBA season. Here’s the Arizona Republic reporting:

The Phoenix Suns will likely start training camp without Devin Booker, whose injured hand is inflamed and may require surgery, a source close the Republic reports.

Booker, the Suns’ leading scorer and highest paid player, was bothered by the right-hand injury throughout the closing months of last season, missing the last 12 games.

At the time, Booker and the Suns took criticism, with some suggesting it was a tactic to improve the team’s position in the draft.

Full article

UPDATE: Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker today underwent successful surgery to repair an injury to the fifth metacarpophalangeal joint in his right hand. The surgery was performed by Dr. Steven Shin at Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles. Booker’s expected recovery time is approximately six weeks.