The Milwaukee Bucks continue to add talent to their roster by reportedly signing Rodney Hood to a one-year contract, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Hood was waived by the Toronto Raptors and will sign with the Bucks once he clears waivers, according to Wojnarowski. The 28-year-old was drafted 23rd overall by the Utah Jazz in 2014 and spent three and a half years with Utah before bouncing around on three different teams since then. This past season, Hood split time between the Raptors and Portland Trail Blazers.
More from Bucks News
- Bucks 2023-24 player profile: Can MarJon Beauchamp take a leap?
- Piecing together the Milwaukee Bucks’ dream starting 5 in 5 years
- Predicting Thanasis Antetokounmpo’s 2023-24 stats for the Bucks
- Grade the trade: Bucks land reputable backup guard in swap with Pacers
- New workout video should have Milwaukee Bucks fans excited
Throughout his seven seasons, Hood has averaged 11.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game and is a career 36.7 percent 3-point shooter (4.2 attempts per game).
For someone with only three seasons of playoff experience, Hood has played in 44 total playoff games with the Utah Jazz, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Portland Trail Blazers. He has averaged 7.9 points and a 50.9 true shooting percentage in his playoff career.
Hood’s main problem throughout his career has been his ability to be on the floor. He has played over 70 games just twice in his career while only playing in 55 of the 72 games this past season. It’s an interesting signing for a Bucks team that did need more depth on the wing, especially with Bryn Forbes leaving to rejoin the San Antonio Spurs and P.J. Tucker signing with the Miami Heat.
With that being said, let’s dive in and look at what Rodney Hood might bring to the table for the Bucks.
What is the financial value of Rodney Hood’s signing for the Milwaukee Bucks?
Although full terms haven’t been reported yet, it’s hard to imagine this is anything other than a minimum contract.
Considering Hood’s aforementioned injury history, it would be a tough sell to give him more than the minimum. If that is indeed true, the Bucks would still have their taxpayer mid-level exception worth $5.9 million available to them to utilize on other free agents. Who exactly that might be is still up in the air, but it makes sense that they did not spend it on Hood.
You can debate how effective Hood will be if he’s healthy, but there’s no harm in taking a flyer on a player with Hood’s track record when healthy. If he can rebound from back-to-back injury-riddled seasons, Hood could be a solid rotational piece for the Bucks, who could use his instant offense off the bench. The concerns are there, but considering this is likely a minimum deal, this signing is nothing to get up in arms about. In fact, this deal seems more like an opportunity for Hood to prove himself on a contender.
How does Rodney Hood fit with the Milwaukee Bucks?
Similar to the Semi Ojeleye signing, Hood has a built-in role in the Bucks’ rotation already.
At 6-foot-8 and 208 pounds, Hood can slide right in to be Khris Middleton’s backup from day one (assuming he’s healthy). Hood has spent at least 66 percent of his minutes at small forward the last three seasons, giving the Bucks some much-needed depth on the wing.
He also likely fills the bench shooter role left vacant by Bryn Forbes. While streaky, Hood has had seasons of very high-level 3-point shooting. His best came two seasons ago, in 2019-20, where he shot 49.3 percent over 21 games with the Blazers before suffering an Achilles injury that wiped out the rest of his season. The Achilles injury would likely explain his drop-off to only a 30 percent 3-point shooter this past season, by far the worst mark of his career.
Prior to last season, Hood shot 37.2 percent for his career from 3 point range on 4.6 attempts per game. It seems unlikely Hood will get back to his 2019-20 form where he posted a staggering 62.5 percent true shooting and shot over 50 percent on 2 point field goals, albeit it came in a small sample size as he played in just 21 games. Yet, the hope that he can return to that form is what makes this an upside signing.
By most advanced defensive metrics, Hood is an average-to-below-average defender. At worst, he can provide a slightly more diverse scoring profile on the wing off the bench, something the Bucks have lacked for the last couple of seasons.
What is the grade for the Milwaukee Bucks signing of Rodney Hood?
Another (assumed) minimum deal for the Bucks that leaves you wanting a bit more.
Don’t get me wrong, I like taking a flyer on a guy like Hood that can give you more than he showed last season. He fills a much-needed role, and he should provide good minutes off the bench in the regular season and has experience in the playoffs. If Hood can get to the level he was at prior to his Achilles injury, then this could be a home run.
On the flip side, his injury history could persist, and he might not ever fully be the same after that kind of major injury. It’s a risk, but a minimal one. However, you can’t help but stare at the taxpayer mid-level that’s burning a hole in the Bucks’ pocket. While most of the high-profile names have already been signed off the market to respective teams, there are still some targets out there that would truly make this offseason stand out.
Hood and Ojeleye are solid signings and should provide a good return on the Bucks’ small financial investment. Yet, they are a pair of role players. Sure, the potential is there with Hood to be a solid scorer off the bench, but the Bucks are ultimately banking on his health. This offseason would look a lot more impressive if they can add a bigger name player with their exception.