Philadelphia 76ers: 3 potential replacements for Marco Belinelli

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 5: Marco Belinelli #18 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts along with Joel Embiid #21 after tying the game at the end of regulation against the Boston Celtics during Game Three of the Eastern Conference Second Round of the 2018 NBA Playoff at Wells Fargo Center on May 5, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Marco Belinelli;Joel Embiid
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 5: Marco Belinelli #18 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts along with Joel Embiid #21 after tying the game at the end of regulation against the Boston Celtics during Game Three of the Eastern Conference Second Round of the 2018 NBA Playoff at Wells Fargo Center on May 5, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Marco Belinelli;Joel Embiid /
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(Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) /

2. Rodney Hood, Cleveland Cavaliers

A former first round selection out of Duke, the 25-year-old Hood is one of a number of highly talented players who remain unsigned through the second week of free agency.

Entering this summer, Hood is rebounding from an extremely mixed past season. Having averaged 16.8 points per game through his first 39 games with the Utah Jazz, Hood was dealt midseason to the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, playing in the shadow of LeBron James, Hood saw his opportunities, and thus his production, shrink in his new environment.

While this wasn’t ideal entering free agency, Hood’s reputation took the greatest hit following Game 4 of the Cavaliers’ Eastern Conference semifinals series against the Toronto Raptors. On the verge of sweeping the Raptors, Hood refused to enter the game in the final period when called upon by head coach Tyronn Lue. Although he later apologized, this certainly didn’t go unnoticed around the league.

https://twitter.com/utahjazz/status/931014128084271104

Overall last season, just 51.2 percent of Hood’s made field goals came via an assist from a teammate. Considering some of the Sixers’ existing starters like J.J. Redick are highly reliant on getting open looks, Hood’s ability top get off his own shot provides the Sixers with a genuine point of difference. At 6’8″, Hood is also a legitimate long range threat, having converted at a 38.9 percent clip on 6.7 attempts per game in his 39 appearances with the Jazz.

Still with scope to improve his overall game, Hood would fill a genuine area of need for the Sixers, while also having the opportunity to showcase his game for a larger contract down the track.

However, he’s a restricted free agent, so any offer Philadelphia sent his way at this point would almost certainly be matched by the Cavs. At this point, it’d take Cleveland renouncing his rights for any sort of low-level deal to come through the pipeline.