Rodney Hood Rumors: SG in the Cavaliers' Plans Amid Kyle Korver Trade Reports

With Kyle Korver trade rumors swirling, Cleveland Cavaliers restricted free agent Rodney Hood appears likely to remain with the team.

According to Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com: "A team source said Hood, 25, remained in the team's plans—a strong indication the team would match any offer he gets."

As for Korver, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Thursday that the Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers have "had discussions" about a Korver-for-Jerryd-Bayless swap. On Friday, Marc Stein of the New York Times tweeted that a trade "is 'possible' but also 'far from certain,' according to one league source briefed on the talks."

Vardon added that a "team source told cleveland.com there was 'nothing to report' on those talks."

Losing Korver, 37, would cost the team its best three-point shooter. Korver averaged 9.2 points per game coming off the bench for the Cavs last season, shooting 43.6 percent from three. That marksmanship often made up for his defensive deficiencies, giving the team a solid jolt of offense off the bench. 

The Cavaliers may be hoping Hood takes on a bigger role in the 2018-19 season, however, minimizing the need for a three-point specialist. Hood struggled after being traded to the Cavaliers at the trade deadline, averaging just 10.8 points per game in the regular season. 

He largely fell out of the rotation later in the postseason, appearing in 17 of a possible 22 postseason contests (one start) while posting just 5.4 points in 15.3 minutes per game. He also made waves after declining to enter the team's Game 4 victory over the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals in garbage time, though he later apologized to the team and Cleveland didn't discipline him.

Hood had been having a memorable season with the Utah Jazz before the trade, averaging 16.8 points while shooting 38.9 percent from three, both career highs. If he returns to that form, Hood could be an important part of Cleveland's core going forward, alongside players like Kevin Love, Collin Sexton, Larry Nance Jr. and a solid cast of veterans. 

That group could compete for a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference, though without players like Hood stepping up and taking their game to another level, the Cavaliers will find themselves in a battle to secure a No. 7 or 8 seed.