After a summer-long process, restricted free agent Rodney Hood has finally made a decision on his future. According to Cleveland.com's Joe Vardon, the shooting guard has accepted a $3.4 million qualifying offer to remain with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the upcoming season.That means he'll become an unrestricted free agent next year and be able to discuss terms with any team. Hood's future had dragged on throughout the offseason as he refused to accept the Cavs' offer of a multi-year deal worth $7m a year.He was hoping to receive up to $12 million annually and went in search of an offer sheet from other teams but no deals materialised, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. 

Costing himself a big deal

The 25-year-old was hopeful of receiving a big payday this summer but he struggled to make an impact after his trade to the Cavaliers and his stock decreased. 

The Utah Jazz were not keen on signing him to a long-term extension and offloaded him to Ohio at the trade deadline. 

But he found life hard in Cleveland and lost confidence during the playoffs which led to head coach Tyronn Lue leaving him out his rotation altogether.

He averaged 10.8 points in 21 games after being acquired by the Cavs. His postseason numbers dipped to just 5.4 points in 17 outings.

Vardon reports that most NBA insiders said he cost himself the kind of money he wanted because of this poor production.

Betting big on himself

With his acceptance of the team's qualifying offer, he'll be betting on himself to have a big year in the hope of attracting stronger interest in 2019.

LeBron James' departure from The Land will ease the pressure and minimise the level of scrutiny and expectation surrounding the franchise. 

Hood arrived midway through the season and was immediately expected to play a part in a championship run. 

It was a difficult situation for the former Duke product to enter but he'll surely have more joy in the upcoming season. 

He posted almost 17 points per game in 2016-17 with the Jazz and has shown himself to be a solid scorer. 

With a good training camp and pre-season under his belt, he should become an important piece for the Cavaliers. 

Hood may well develop into the team's second scoring option behind Kevin Love if he can replicate the numbers he had in Utah before he was traded.

This will definitely be the biggest season of his young career so far. 

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