Answers to key questions about the Utah Jazz trade
Cleveland Cavaliers' Jae Crowder shoots against the Indiana Pacers in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
The Utah Jazz traded Rodney Hood to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Joe Johnson to the Sacramento Kings. In exchange, the Jazz received Jae Crowder and Derrick Rose from Cleveland, but Rose is expected to be released. Here are the answers to some pressing questions about the trades.
Why do it?
The Jazz long have admired Jae Crowder’s toughness, ability to shoot and his grit. He’s also a versatile piece. He’s one of the better wing defenders in the NBA. He can play shooting guard, small forward and power forward, and he can guard all three positions. He fits as a spot-up shooter around Donovan Mitchell, Ricky Rubio and Rudy Gobert. With Crowder, expect Jazz coach Quin Snyder to unlock his small-ball lineups even more.
What are the risks?
Crowder hasn’t been very good this season. He’s struggled with his shooting, his defense has been even worse and he’s seemed miserable with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Jazz are hoping this is due to the system that he was in. Playing with LeBron James means standing around and waiting for the basketball to find you and doing something with it when it arrives. That’s not Crowder’s game. He flourished in Boston with a system that features ball movement. The Jazz are betting he can do the same in Utah.
How does this move fit into the long-term plans?
Crowder has one of the best value deals in the NBA. He’s a starter-level player who will make $ 7.3 million next season and $7.8 million in 2019-2020. Simply put, you may not find a better deal in the league for his level of production. He’s 27, so he’s entering his prime. He actually fits with the timeline. To get that for Rodney Hood, who likely was going to be gone this summer, makes this a potentially great buy-low trade for the Jazz.
How will this trade affect the offense?
Crowder will give the Jazz a shooter at small-ball power forward who will spot-up in the corners and fire away. He’s not great off the dribble, but he’s capable of driving and kicking, attacking closeouts and getting to the basket. He probably becomes Utah’s sixth man if the Jazz keep Derrick Favors in the fold. He easily could become a starter for Utah next season if Favors isn’t back with the team.
What about the defense?
Defensively is where Crowder is a clear upgrade from Hood. He’s one of the better and more versatile wing defenders in the NBA. He’s capable of guarding three spots and fits in perfectly with Snyder’s defensive switching scheme. Here is where Crowder has a perfect chance to make a significant impact.
What about the salary cap going forward?
It gives the Jazz the chance to add a starter-type talent while maintaining cap flexibility. They now have more room to re-sign Dante Exum, so that’s no longer an issue. And they still should have money remaining to upgrade the roster in free agency.
Fun fact
Crowder’s father, Corey, played 51 games for the Jazz during the 1991-92 season.
Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) shoots as New York Knicks guard Ron Baker (31) watches during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 19, 2018, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
(Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) walks off of the court after the game at Vivint Smart Home Arena Saturday, January 20, 2018. New York Knicks defeated Utah Jazz 117-115.
Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) leaves the court after his second technical foul, forcing his ejection during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018, in Washington. The Jazz won 107-104. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood, back, argues after he was called for traveling as Denver Nuggets guard Gary Harris heads down the court in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) defended by Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams (12) as the Utah Jazz host the Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA basketball in Salt Lake City, Saturday December 23, 2017.
San Antonio Spurs guard Bryn Forbes, left, defends Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
San Antonio Spurs guard Bryn Forbes, right, guards Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) passes the ball as the Utah Jazz host the Milwaukee Bucks, NBA basketball in Salt Lake City Saturday November 25, 2017.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) as the Utah Jazz host the Milwaukee Bucks, NBA basketball in Salt Lake City Saturday November 25, 2017.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) defended by Milwaukee Bucks guard DeAndre Liggins (25) as the Utah Jazz host the Milwaukee Bucks, NBA basketball in Salt Lake City Saturday November 25, 2017.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) nails a three pointer over San Antonio Spurs guard Bryn Forbes (11) during the second half of the NBA basketball game in Salt Lake City, Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017.
Cleveland Cavaliers' JR Smith, left, knocks the ball loose from Utah Jazz's Rodney Hood in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Chicago Bulls guard Antonio Blakeney (9) defends Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) as the Utah Jazz host the Chicago Bulls, NBA basketball in Salt Lake City Wednesday November 22, 2017.
Philadelphia 76ers' T.J. McConnell, right, steals the ball away from Utah Jazz's Rodney Hood during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Nov. 20, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) as the Utah Jazz host the Chicago Bulls, NBA basketball in Salt Lake City Wednesday November 22, 2017.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) runs into Chicago Bulls forward Lauri Markkanen (24) as the Utah Jazz host the Chicago Bulls, NBA basketball in Salt Lake City Wednesday November 22, 2017.
Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) dunks against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second half during an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Utah Jazz's Rodney Hood (5) shoots as Toronto Raptors' Kyle Lowry (7) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Nov. 3, 2017, in Salt Lake City. The Raptors won 109-100. (AP Photo/Kim Raff)
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) shoots over Los Angeles Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr. (7), in NBA action, Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Lakers, in Salt Lake City, Saturday, October 28, 2017.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz players Rudy Gobert, and Rodney Hood pose for a photo with head coach Quinn Snyder, during the Utah Jazz media day, at the Zions Bank Basketball Center, Monday, September 25, 2017.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) shoots over Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari (8) during the game at Vivint Smart Home Arena Friday December 18, 2015.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24), shares a laugh with Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5), during his last basketball game in Utah, as the Utah Jazz beat the the Los Angeles Lakers 123-75, in Salt Lake City, Monday, March 28, 2016.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) as the Utah Jazz host the Golden State Warriors in Salt Lake City, Wednesday March 30, 2016.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Phoenix Suns guard Ronnie Price (14) guards Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5), in NBA action Phoenix Suns vs. The Utah Jazz, in Salt Lake City, Monday, December 21, 2015.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) celebrates after hitting the game-winning three-pointer during the game at Vivint Smart Home Arena Saturday December 17, 2016. Utah Jazz defeated Dallas Mavericks 103-100.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) drives on Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) as the Utah Jazz host the Golden State Warriors in Salt Lake City, Wednesday March 30, 2016.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) makes a move, as Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) defends, in NBA action, The Utah Jazz vs. The Houston Rockets, in Salt Lake City, Monday, January 4, 2016.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) gets tangled up with Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5), while playing his last basketball game in Utah, as the Utah Jazz beat the the Los Angeles Lakers 123-75, in Salt Lake City, Monday, March 28, 2016.
Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood, center, celebrates with forward Joe Ingles, second from left, of Australia, and forward Joe Johnson, second from right, after scoring as Los Angeles Clippers guard Austin Rivers, left, walks away and forward Gordon Hayward watches during the second half in Game 7 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, April 30, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) tries to work the ball inside, as Phoenix Suns guard Ronnie Price (14) defends, in NBA action Phoenix Suns vs. The Utah Jazz, in Salt Lake City, Monday, December 21, 2015.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) shoots past Denver Nuggets guard Gary Harris (14) during the game at Vivint Smart Home Arena Friday December 18, 2015. Utah Jazz defeated Denver Nuggets 97-88.
Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune
Rodney Hood grimaces after fouling Pacers guard C.J. Miles behind the three-point line in the first half of an NBA basketball game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015.
Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) goes up for a shot against Atlanta Hawks guard Dennis Schroeder (17) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune
Rodney Hood (5) of the Utah Jazz taking shots at the Zions Bank Basketball Center in Salt Lake City after practice Friday October 3, 2014.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune
Rodney Hood as the Utah Jazz hold an open practice in Salt Lake City, Thursday July 10, 2014.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) as the Utah Jazz host the Golden State Warriors in Salt Lake City, Wednesday March 30, 2016.
Dallas Mavericks' Chandler Parsons, left, defends as Utah Jazz's Rodney Hood (5) sprints to the corner to take a 3-point shot that would sink late in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016, in Dallas. The shot tied up the game sending it into overtime where the Jazz won 121-119. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune
Rodney Hood speaks at the Jazz practice facility, Thursday, April 27, 2017.
Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah's Rodney Hood looks up at the basket during the Utah Jazz Summer League game between the Jazz and the San Antonio Spurs at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 7, 2015.
Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah's Rodney Hood drives into the lane during the Utah Jazz Summer League game between the Jazz and the San Antonio Spurs at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 7, 2015.
Utah Jazz's Rodney Hood (5) drives to the basket against Dallas Mavericks' Deron Williams (8) for a shot opportunity as Chandler Parsons (25) sprints to help against the play in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016, in Dallas. The Jazz won in overtime 121-119. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) takes the ball inside as Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) defends, in Utah Jazz Summer League action, Utah Jazz vs. The Boston Celtics, at EnergySolutions Arena, Monday, July 6, 2015.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) goes one-on-one with Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36), in Utah Jazz Summer League action, Utah Jazz vs. The Boston Celtics, at EnergySolutions Arena, Monday, July 6, 2015. Hood led the scoring for the Jazz with 23 points.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) shoots past Minnesota Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine (8) during the game at Vivint Smart Home Arena Friday January 29, 2016. Utah Jazz defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 103-90.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
Jazz Media Day. Portrait photo of Rodney Hood.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Jazz center Jeff Withey (24) Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) and Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles (2) walk off of the court during the game at Vivint Smart Home Arena Thursday January 14, 2016. Sacramento Kings defeated the Utah Jazz 103-101.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) makes a move, as Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) defends, in NBA action, The Utah Jazz vs. The Houston Rockets, in Salt Lake City, Monday, January 4, 2016.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) hits the floor, after being fouled while shooting a 3-point shot, in NBA action, The Utah Jazz vs. The Houston Rockets, in Salt Lake City, Monday, January 4, 2016.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) in NBA action, The Utah Jazz vs. The Houston Rockets, in Salt Lake City, Monday, January 4, 2016.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) reacts after getting poked in the eye, as he was fouled by Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) in NBA action Utah Jazz vs. The Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Saturday, January 2, 2016.
Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) talks to reporters during the Utah Jazz media availability at the Four Seasons in San Francisco Wednesday May 3, 2017.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Jazz guard Shelvin Mack (8), Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) and Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) look on in the final minute, down ten points as the Utah Jazz host the Golden State Warriors in Game 3 of the second round, NBA playoff basketball in Salt Lake City, Saturday May 6, 2017.
Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) and Utah Jazz forward Joe Johnson (6) hug as the Jazz pull away from the Clippers late in the fourth quarter of their NBA playoff game at Viviint Smart Home arena in Salt Lake City Sunday April 23, 2017.
Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) pumps his fist as the Jazz stormed back in the fourth quarter to defeat the Clippers in game 4 of the NBA playoff at Viviint Smart Home arena in Salt Lake City Sunday April 23, 2017.
Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) gets to the basket during the Jazz versus Clippers NBA playoff game at Viviint Smart Home arena in Salt Lake City Sunday April 23, 2017.
Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) celebrates a key basket late in the game. The Utah Jazz beat the LA Clipper 105-98 to take Game 4 and tie up the Western Conference playoff series at 2-2, Sunday, April 23, 2017.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood talks to the media at the Utah Jazz practice facility, in Salt Lake City, Thursday, April 20, 2017.
Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) smiles after banking in a long three-pointer as the buzzer sounded ending the first quarter during the final game of the 2017 season against the San Antonio Spurs at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City Wednesday April 12, 2017.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) grabs the ball past LA Clippers guard Jamal Crawford (11) during Game 1 of the Western Conference at the Staples Center Saturday, April 15, 2017. Utah Jazz defeated LA Clippers 97-95.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) grabs the ball past LA Clippers guard Jamal Crawford (11) during Game 1 of the Western Conference at the Staples Center Saturday, April 15, 2017. Utah Jazz defeated LA Clippers 97-95.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) shoots past LA Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) during Game 1 of the Western Conference at the Staples Center Saturday, April 15, 2017. Utah Jazz defeated LA Clippers 97-95.
Steve Griffin / The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) tries to reach for the ball as Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) streaks to the basket during the Utah Jazz versus Houston Rockets NBA game at Vivint Smarthome Arena in Salt Lake City Tuesday November 29, 2016.
Steve Griffin / The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) falls back in pain as he gets hit in the face as he drives to the basket during the Utah Jazz versus Houston Rockets NBA game at Vivint Smarthome Arena in Salt Lake City Tuesday November 29, 2016.
Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood, right, drives against Sacramento Kings guard Darren Collison during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Sacramento, Calif. The Jazz won, in overtime, 110-109. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
Rodney Hood joins teammates as the Utah Jazz opens training camp with media day for players at the team's training facility in Salt Lake on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016.