Suns will not bring back Cody Martin, freeing up cap space

The Phoenix Suns will release wing Cody Martin, freeing up the $8.7 million from his salary for next season, Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro reports.

Martin’s contract was set to be fully guaranteed on Monday. He will now become a free agent.

Martin’s departure allows Phoenix to get closer to escaping the second apron, a threshold of total salary money that puts several restrictions on roster movement for the league’s most expensive teams.

The Suns were upward of $20 million above the projected second apron before Martin was released.

Additionally, depending on where Phoenix sits at the end of this roster churn, the team could save $10s of millions more in luxury taxes.

Phoenix is also reportedly exploring avenues to depart with guard Bradley Beal, with the combination of a buyout and waive-and-stretch serving as a possibility as well. While doing so would put the Suns on the books for $16 million of dead money each of the next five seasons, they would escape both aprons. Beal’s basement-dwelling trade value and no-trade clause make it nearly impossible for Phoenix to deal him. Beal, however, would have to agree to that buyout as well, so that’s not a certainty.

Martin, 30, was acquired by the Suns at the trade deadline from the Charlotte Hornets in a package Phoenix received for center Jusuf Nurkic that also included Vasilije Micic. The Suns gave up a 2026 first-round pick in the deal, and with Martin gone, it certifies the move as an all-out salary dump.

Nurkic is due $19.4 million next season but was traded from Charlotte to the Utah Jazz on Sunday.

Martin arrived in Phoenix with an injury and did not play until March 16.

In his 14 games played, he averaged 3.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 14.7 minutes a night. The stats do not do his impact justice, as Martin’s hustle and grit were a breath of fresh air on a team extremely lacking in those qualities. He immediately became one of Phoenix’s best defensive players and impressed with his effort at filling in the gaps.

Despite Martin being a perfect match for all of the buzzwords owner Mat Ishbia and general manager Brian Gregory said were priorities for the roster next year, the importance of getting under the apron trumped the basketball fit.

Martin will have his fair share of suitors with his winning traits, but his injury history will limit how much teams are willing to spend on him. He has played in 88 total games over the last three seasons.

Related

Suns trade Jusuf Nurkic to Hornets for Cody Martin, Vasilije MicicSuns reportedly waive wing Haywood Highsmith, opening roster spotSuns likely to face Warriors in regular-season home openerLakers sell for record-breaking $12.5 billion to Josh Kushner, former Disney CEO Bob IgerSuns to begin NBA Cup group play against Nuggets, finish vs. MavericksDon Nelson, second-winningest NBA coach who won 5 titles as a Celtics player, dies at 86