Brooklyn Nets: Under-the-radar free agent fits to consider

Rodney Hood

Rodney Hood will be an unrestricted free agent from a Portland Trail Blazers team with limited cap space and without the ability to use Bird rights to retain Hood over the cap.

Because Hood accepted the one-year qualifying offer from the Cleveland Cavaliers last summer as a restricted free agent and was subsequently traded, his Bird rights did not transfer from Cleveland to Portland.

As a versatile swingman at 6-foot-8, Hood can play guard or forward with a huge upside. Lately He’s shown more of a post game and prowess in the paint as well. At worst he’d serve as a valuable role player giving the Nets depth and injury insurance at two different positions.

The former Duke alum is a career 36.7 percent 3-point shooter and averages 12.6 points per game. Throughout his career he has struggled with his mental approach and this lack of confidence has led to inconsistent play.

Former Cavaliers coach Larry Drew said Hood has barely scratched the surface in terms of ability and stressed that getting Hood to stop over-thinking on the court would help unleash that tremendous potential.

In Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals, Hood did just that and played the best game of his career. On a night when Damian Lillard struggled, Hood was the catalyst in that crucial win over Denver.

Perhaps the Brooklyn Nets coaching staff could truly unlock Hood’s full potential. This would give the Nets wing depth and also add another valuable asset to the team if the price is right to acquire him and he exceeds expectations.