Indiana Pacers: 3 free agents who could replace Justin Holiday
By Luke Parrish
Rodney Hood
Rodney Hood is a very intriguing option on the wing after declining his option with the Trail Blazers. In just 21 games last year, Hood shot an astounding 49.3 percent three-point range and averaged 11 points per game. Across six seasons, Hood has averaged 12.5 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.
Prior to the 2020 NBA Draft, Hood declined his player option which was worth roughly $6 million to explore free agency. He is coming off a torn Achilles that he suffered last December but can still be a reliable shooter on the perimeter.
If he is fully healthy, Indiana would be wise to consider him as a replacement for Holiday. He may not be as good of a defender, but Hood is one of the best pure shooters in the NBA, which is apparent by his shooting percentages. He is a career 37.2 percent shooter from range and converts nearly 84 percent of his free throws.
Indiana needs players who can bring buckets to the second unit and Rodney Hood is exactly that. With T.J. McConnell and Aaron Holiday handling the ball, the Pacers just need to provide them with weapons on the outside. A bench unit of Holiday, McConnell, Hood, Alize Johnson, and Goga Bitadze could be a nice group in Indiana.
The money for Hood is a bit more difficult to project given his injury and production. If his upcoming salary is similar to that of Justin Holiday, it may be worth considering.