Utah Jazz: 3 contenders that should trade for Rodney Hood

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2. Minnesota Timberwolves

Another team that could use Rodney Hood’s services for a playoff run could be the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Wolves, who are well on pace to reach the playoffs for the first time in 13 seasons, have had the most impressive turnaround in the NBA so far this season. But perhaps the addition of Hood could help push Minnesota — mainly its second unit — over the top in the postseason.

Hood could provide a nice spark to one of the least-used second units in the NBA. The Wolves bench averages 13.3 minutes per game this season, last in the league.

But Hood, who has the ability to hit from beyond the arc, would fit in very nicely alongside the likes of Jamal Crawford, Tyus Jones, Nemanja Bjelica and Gorgui Dieng.

Minnesota also has the assets to offer Utah. The Wolves obtained a first round pick from the Jazz (which is actually OKC’s pick) in an offseason trade involving Ricky Rubio and could possibly look to ship that back to Utah for Hood, if the Jazz are strictly looking for future assets.

The Wolves could also add a player like Shabazz Muhammad, who has struggled to find his way on the floor in Minnesota this season. Muhammad, who re-signed in Minnesota for the league minimum, has a player option for next season. The appealing thing about Muhammad is in the past, he has played well alongside Rubio when the two spent time together with the Wolves.

Of the three teams included in this story, Minnesota makes the most sense in going out to grab the 25-year-old guard with the Jazz. And if things wouldn’t work out in the Land of 10,000 Lakes in the second half of the year or in the postseason, Hood’s contract expires after the season and the two sides could move on.