The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz finally trade Rodney Hood, welcome Jae Crowder

By Ryan Aston

CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 20: Jae Crowder #99 of the Cleveland Cavaliers waits for the ball to be put into play during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Quicken Loans Arena on January 20, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 20: Jae Crowder #99 of the Cleveland Cavaliers waits for the ball to be put into play during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Quicken Loans Arena on January 20, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /
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As was long expected, the Utah Jazz dealt Rodney Hood ahead of the NBA trade deadline. In return, Jae Crowder comes to Utah from the Cleveland Cavaliers.

On the morning of the NBA’s deadline for completing trades, one thing seemed clear for the Utah Jazz. Rodney Hood and Joe Johnson had played their last games in a Jazz uniform. It was just a matter of where they were going and who Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey would bring back in their place.

Now, after weeks of trade chatter, we have our answer.

In a deal first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Utah has shipped out Hood and Johnson as part of a three-team trade involving the Celeveland Cavaliers and Sacramento Kings. Hood will join LeBron James and the Cavs, who are sending the Jazz a player they coveted previously. Namely, forward Jae Crowder.

The Jazz will also receive former MVP Derrick Rose from Cleveland. Meanwhile, Iso Joe is on the move the Sacramento. However, both players are on the verge of being bought out or waived by their new teams.

To complete the deal, former Jazzman George Hill was sent to the Cavs and Iman Shumpert will reportedly join the Kings. There are mixed reports on other pieces potentially involved in the trade. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst sums it up as follows —

The Jazz also created multiple trade exceptions by taking back more salary than they dealt. We’ll update you on those and the final terms of the deal once it becomes official.

We do know two things for sure, however — Crowder is the newest member of the Utah Jazz and Hood gets the fresh start he’s been seeking.

Per reports, the Jazz previously tried to acquire Crowder, 27, from the Boston Celtics via sign-and-trade when Gordon Hayward made the decision to bolt for Beantown. Last week, I identified him as a Jazz trade target with the following appraisal —

"A natural fit in Utah; a mobile three/four tweener who plays with energy on both ends of the floor and can stretch the D a little too. His 14-6 and 40 percent from three stat line in 2016-17 was tantalizing. Crowder seemed like a fine complement to the Stifle Tower."

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At this juncture, I would add that he comes on one of the most team-friendly deals in the Association. Crowder is set to earn $7.3 million next season and $7.8 million the following year.

In 53 games with the Cavs this season, he averaged eight points and three rebounds per game.

Crowder’s father, Corey, played briefly for the Jazz in the early ’90s.

As for Hood, he’s in the midst of a career season, averaging 17 points per game and shooting 39 percent from 3-point range. Look for him to be a key cog for the Cavs going forward, be it in support of a potential NBA Finals run or as a building block in the event the LeBron leaves the team during the offseason.

Related Story: Jazz give Jae Crowder a pair of his dad's old kicks

Hood is set to become a restricted free agent this summer. Cleveland maintains team control in the process with the right to match any offer sheet he signs.

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