Phoenix Suns Cutting Key Wing Ahead of Free Agency

Per John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Phoenix, Phoenix is going to waive swingman Cody Martin, who had been on a non-guaranteed $8.5 million contract for the 2025-26 season. That deal would have become fully guaranteed Monday.

Martin now becomes an unrestricted free agent. 

According to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of Substack's The Stein Line, several rival clubs had been eyeing Martin as a prospective signing even ahead of the move, perhaps anticipating that Phoenix would look for some cap relief and opt not to guarantee Martin's money for next year. The Miami Heat, with whom Cody Martin's twin brother Caleb had enjoyed a solid three-season stint, were specifically named as a possibility.

The Suns had obtained the 6-foot-5 swingman at the trade deadline from the Charlotte Hornets. 

Martin possesses plenty of two-way capability, although his ceiling at this stage appears to be as a bench 3-and-D option with a slightly above-average handle for a wing. A sports hernia limited Martin's availability for Phoenix after the Hornets deal. In 14 healthy bouts for the Suns, he averaged just 3.7 points on .351/.111/.750 shooting splits, 3.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 0.9 steals.