2018-19 NBA Preview: 5 free agents who could still make a difference

#1 Rodney Hood

Cleveland Cavaliers v Boston Celtics

It is startling how one bad move can nearly stall a player's career or make his NBA future murky, but that is what has happened with Rodney Hood since getting traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers at the deadline. His scoring touches went down by a large chunk, his role as a scorer off the bench caused the coach to shave his minutes and he was asked on a number of occasions to be an off-ball threat, which is the best way to utilize his talent.

He hurt his own public impression by refusing to come off the bench during a blowout win for the Cavs in the Conference Semifinals, and that might be part of the reason why no team has yet looked to lock him up for at least a season. During a time when Zach LaVine and Jabari Parker are receiving about $20 million a year, Hood should have been able to command some kind of a respectable contract at least in the range of $10 million given his ability to score off the dribble.

Perhaps the Cavs can re-sign him on a prove-it deal, but he won't be earning much this year, and will likely be relegated to a sixth man role wherever he signs.