In a surprising move aimed at tightening up their roster, the Phoenix Suns have waived veteran forward Nassir Little and second-year guard EJ Liddell. This decision opens up a roster spot, giving the Suns some much-needed flexibility as they navigate the financial tightrope of their $219 million payroll, the highest in the league.
Little's journey with the Suns was short-lived. Acquired as part of the high-profile Damian Lillard-Jrue Holiday trade, Little averaged 3.4 points and 1.7 rebounds over 45 games in his sole season with Phoenix. Far from the impact player the Suns had hoped for, Little found himself on the fringes of the rotation. With three years and $21 million left on his contract, the Suns decided to deploy the stretch provision, ensuring Little receives $3 million annually until 2032.
EJ Liddell's stint with the Suns was equally tumultuous. Originally a second-round pick by the New Orleans Pelicans in 2022, Liddell's promising start was derailed by an ACL injury during the Summer League that sidelined him for his entire rookie season. Despite being traded to the Hawks as part of the Dejounte Murray deal and then to the Suns in exchange for David Roddy, Liddell played only eight games last season, spending significant time in the G League to regain form.
The financial ramifications of these moves are substantial. The Suns are currently exceeding the "second apron," a financial threshold that imposes significant limitations on team operations. As a result, the Suns cannot aggregate salaries in trades, acquire more money than they send out in a trade, use any version of the mid-level exception, or sign players from the buyout market whose initial salary exceeded the non-taxpayer mid-level exception.
However, the silver lining is the newly available roster spot, which presents an opportunity to scout and bring in emerging talent or veterans willing to accept minimum offers. Earlier this summer, the Suns secured the services of Tyus Jones on a minimum contract, signaling their willingness to make tough decisions in pursuit of strategic flexibility.
The Suns' management has shown it isn't afraid to shake things up to maintain competitiveness while adhering to financial constraints. With an open roster spot, the team will likely be on the lookout for potential contributors who can fit within their existing salary structure.
As the Suns move forward, their financial prudence will be as instrumental as their on-court performance in determining their success in the coming season. Faced with the challenges of the "second apron," the team will need to judiciously manage their resources while continuing to scout for hidden gems or veterans eager for a chance to contribute to a title-contending squad.