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Duke Basketball: Rodney Hood re-signs with the Portland Trail Blazers

By Kevin Connelly

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 03: Rodney Hood #5 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts after a play against the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on March 03, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 03: Rodney Hood #5 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts after a play against the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on March 03, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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The Portland Trail Blazers are keeping one of its own after resigning the former Duke Basketball star, Rodney Hood.

It’s certainly not going to make the front page of the newspaper tomorrow morning and it won’t be mention in the first half-hour of SportsCenter, but when you keep a key member of a Western Conference Finals team, it’s a solid signing.

That’s what the Portland Trail Blazers did on Sunday evening, resigning Rodney Hood to a two-year, $16 million deal, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

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In his report, Woj said that the deal includes a player option after the first year

Hood was traded to Portland after playing 45 games with the Cleveland Cavaliers to start the season, but played 27 regular season games with the Trail Blazers before helping to the playoff success in Portland.

In the regular season, Hood averaged 9.6 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game, while shooting 45.2% from the field and 34.5% from 3-point range.

However, Hood emerged in the postseason, playing in 16 games for the Trail Blazers, averaging 9.9 points, and 2.2 rebounds per game, while shooting 46.8% from the field.

The No. 23 overall pick of the Utah Jazz in the 2014 NBA Draft burst onto the scene after a 19-point performance in Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals in a 4OT win for Portland. Hood then posted 25 points in a win-or-go-home Game 6 in a series Portland eventually won in Game 7.

The former Blue Devil averaged 14.7 points per game against the Denver Nuggets in the West Semifinals before averaging 9.8 points per game in the Western Conference Finals despite being swept by the Golden State Warriors.

Portland made bigger news on Sunday, agreeing to an extension with star guard Damian Lillard for a four-year, $196 million super max contract extension, which includes a $54 million player option for the 2024-25 season.

With some teams in the Western Conference weakening, namely the Golden State Warriors, teams are gearing up to make a run at the crown in the West starting in October.

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