Report: Detroit Pistons Interested in Rodney Hood

The Detroit Pistons are rumored to be interested in acquiring Utah Jazz shooting guard Rodney Hood.  We look at the implications.

On the heels of the blockbuster Blake Griffin trade, Kevin O’Connor from The Ringer reported that the Pistons may not be done.  According to O’Connor, Detroit could be sending out small forward Stanley Johnson in exchange for Rodney Hood.

Hood would fill the role voided by moving Avery Bradley and provide length and shooting to a team that desperately needs it.  But, the cost of young Stanley Johnson complicates matters.

Johnson has played well recently, including one of the best performances of his career in a win against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

With Reggie Jackson injured and a dearth of true ball handlers on the roster, Johnson was thrown into the fire, being asked to replace some of the point guard duties missed with Jackson’s absence.

Johnson has found a niche in the lineup as a ball handler in transition, focusing on creating for himself and his teammates rather than forcing spot-up jumpers.  In a more natural role, he is playing some of the best basketball of his young career.

The Pistons small forward two-and-a-half year career in Detroit has been tenuous.  Coach Stan Van Gundy has been criticized for benching Johnson early in games because of defensive lapses, leading to a tumultuous relationship.

Van Gundy’s role in the front office could play a significant role in Johnson’s future with the team.  If the relationship is as strained as it appears on the outside, Van Gundy could move him for less than what he could get simply to improve his relationship with his players.

If that happens and Johnson excels elsewhere, Van Gundy’s tenure in Detroit may be short lived.