2018 NBA trade deadline: Pistons reportedly pursuing Rodney Hood

The Pistons need to keep dealing in the wake of the Blake Griffin trade and Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer says that Rodney Hood is the next target.

The Pistons might not be done making moves. Multiple sources say that they are after Jazz guard Rodney Hood and could send out forward Stanley Johnson. Hood is another injury-prone player, but these are the types of calculated risks Van Gundy needs to take to save his job.

So Rodney Hood for Stanley Johnson. Hood makes for an interesting target. He’s a big wing who is comfortable with the ball in his hands. He was looked at for a big jump this season with the departure of Gordon Hayward and has to an extent. His scoring is up from 12.7 points per game to 16.7. But he also is coming off the bench behind rookie Donovan Mitchell.

Hood is a big wing who is comfortable with the ball in his hands and shooting from deep. He averages 7 three point attempts per game and connects at 38.6 percent.

Moving Johnson for Hood would be a matter of the Pistons swapping youth to push to salvage the season. But Hood is just in his fourth season and 25 years old. He’s in the final year of his rookie contract and will be a restricted free agent this summer.

With Hood being moved to the bench and not offered a contract extension from the Jazz, he doesn’t look to be a significant part of their future plans. Flipping him for a young player with an extra year of team control and some possible extra potential in Johnson makes sense from their end. And Hood would represent some additional offensive firepower for the Pistons to address their fourth quarter woes. It makes some sense for both sides.

We’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, what say you DBB?