Portland Trail Blazers: 3 players most likely to be traded this season

Trade option #3 – Rodney Hood

Though Rodney Hood may be a strong performer this season, his contract is the perfect deal to either be aggregated with another salary like Kanter’s or just sent on his own.

Hood ruptured his Achilles just a month into the 2020 season, but has made a full recovery and is part of the team to begin the season.

Hood is back in a limited capacity to start the year as he gets back into game shape; his shooting and isolation scoring will be valuable to this team off the bench though.

When his minutes limit is lifted, Hood may move into the starting lineup at the small forward position, but I still wouldn’t be surprised that if the Blazers looked to make a trade, that Hood would be in it.

Because of his $10.5 million salary this season, and the same number next year that is un-guaranteed, if a trade partner comes up with a player that Olshey likes the look of, this is the perfect sized salary. A team could acquire him and look to cut salary, or bring him back for less by not guaranteeing the second year.

The Blazers could bring back up to $13.12 million if they sent Hood out in a trade.

Though they need his shooting off the bench at the moment, more two-way play or a passing guard off the bench could be acquired with Hood’s salary if they chose to move him.

This team is in win-now mode, and if they struggle early on then Olshey shouldn’t hesitate to make a move.