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Portland Trail Blazers: 5 potential targets in 2019 NBA free agency

By Ty Delbridge

PORTLAND, OR - FEBRUARY 7: Al-Farouq Aminu #8 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on against the San Antonio Spurs on February 7, 2019 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - FEBRUARY 7: Al-Farouq Aminu #8 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on against the San Antonio Spurs on February 7, 2019 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /

4. Rodney Hood

The Blazers made a deal to acquire Rodney Hood from the Cleveland Cavilers at the NBA trade deadline. At the time, Hood had been in Cleveland for a season in a half and was not playing his best basketball. He came to Portland and established himself as a vital piece of the rotation.

Hood played well for the Blazers during the regular season and helped the team secure the 3-seed in the Western Conference. He also stepped up in the playoffs, bringing a scoring punch off of the bench and becoming a big reason the Blazers were able to advance to the conference finals.

During the season for the Blazers, he averaged 9.6 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 0.8 steals per game while shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 34.5 percent from the 3-point line.

In the playoffs, Hood put up 9.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 0.4 steals per game while shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from 3-point range.

Before the playoffs started, the Blazers probably thought they would be able to retain Hood in the offseason. Now it’s come into question whether they will be able to afford him or not. Olshey said in a press conference that they believe Hood could be out of their price range come June 30 and that’s why they traded for Kent Bazemore to get some insurance just in case he does leave.

"“With the distinct possibility that we might end up losing Rodney Hood to offers that go beyond what we can compete with based on our tax mid-level, we needed to get a wing that replicated a lot of the things we were successful with doing last season,” he said."

Hood was able to come to Portland, find a role, and revitalize his career. He now knows what the organization, players, and fanbase are like, and he gets to decide what he wants to do. The Blazers will likely offer him the full mid-level and full years that are available, but that may not be enough.

He should be one of the organization’s top targets though and who knows? The playoff push and fit alongside the Blazers’ two stars might have done enough to convince him to stay in Rip City.

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