Rodney Hood to Decline Player Option, Hit Free Agency

Portland Trail Blazers wing Rodney Hood will not exercise his player option, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports, instead the 28-year-old will gauge his value on the open market.

Hood, a year removed from a torn Achilles injury that ended his 2019-20 campaign, could have returned for the 2020-21 season on a $6 million contract.

The decision to not exercise his option doesn’t mean that Hood wants out of Portland, in fact, just last April he told local media that he hoped to be back with the Blazers, even if his contract took on a different form.

Hood averaged 13.4 points per game during his 21-game run in 2019-20.

The Blazers hold Hood’s Bird rights and thus could exceed the cap in order to bring him back with a pay raise.