Rodney Hood might not be with the Utah Jazz for the long haul.
Multiple league sources tell The Tribune that the Jazz have increased efforts to move the shooting guard before the NBA’s Feb. 8 trade deadline, and there is enough interest throughout the league that Hood likely will be with another team for the remainder of the season.
With the deadline less than three weeks away, Hood joins starting big man Derrick Favors as Jazz players who are available.
Hood is averaging a career-high 16.7 points per game this season. He’s shooting 38.6 percent from 3-point range, and he’s shooting 41.3 percent overall.
But Hood, who views himself as a starter, was sent to the bench for Donovan Mitchell earlier in the season. He’s missed nine games with various injuries, and his status as a restricted free agent this summer elicits uncertainty over his long term future.
Sources tell The Tribune that throughout the league, Hood is seen as a guy who can score either as a starter or off the bench, and he can be someone who can be a playmaker off the dribble.
Hood missed Saturday night’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers with a leg contusion. He had been playing through pain, but took himself out of Friday night’s loss to the New York Knicks. The injury isn’t thought to be serious.
Finding his place
When the Jazz drafted Tyrone Wallace out of California two years ago, they knew he had NBA potential. But a lack of roster spots led the organization to release him before this season.
Wallace has stuck with the Los Angeles Clippers, a combination of his own good play and opportunity. The Clippers have had myriad injuries, giving Wallace a chance to play. And he’s delivered. Wallace is averaging 12.4 points and 3.7 rebounds per game as a two-way player. When his contract is up, he’s given himself a chance at securing a regular NBA contract.
“I just think he’s a good instinctive player,” Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. “In this league, you either do something great, or you do a lot of things well. And he does a lot of things really well that helps his team win. That’s why he’s playing.”
No ill effects
Jazz center Rudy Gobert was given a clean bill of health to play Saturday against the Clippers, something that was in question because Friday night was his return from an injury that kept him out for a month.
But Gobert was evaluated and didn’t feel any soreness in his knee or leg. Snyder said he was still on a minutes restriction, but that it wasn’t a hard and fast restriction.
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