The Phoenix Suns have assigned small forward Cody Martin to the G League Valley Suns, according to the injury report.
Acquired on trade deadline day back on February 6 along with Vasa Micic in exchange for Jusuf Nurkic, Martin has not played in a game since January 24 when he was a member of the Charlotte Hornets due to a sports hernia.
Phoenix plays twice in the time between the assignment and Valley’s next game on Tuesday, which made the move a bit puzzling. However, even if he doesn’t end up seeing game action at the G League level, he could be getting practice reps as well.
Teams with longstanding lower affiliates have utilized them as a platform for players to get some run coming off injury, but this would be the first instance in the Valley Suns era of a non-rookie on Phoenix getting time there if it happens.
The trade was initially identified as a salary move in addition to getting off Nurkic, due to the fact that Martin and Micic can be waived together this offseason to get Phoenix under the second apron.
However, the No. 36 pick in 2019 out of Nevada has shown defensive tools that could make the proposition of keeping him around Devin Booker an enticing one, making his evaluation a worthwhile one before game reps are gone.
He also averaged 7.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.3 steals as he played all but two games over the season’s front half.
The Valley Suns play at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Mullett Arena in Tempe against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the affiliate of the Houston Rockets, where 2024 top-3 pick Reed Sheppard was getting run not too long ago.
You can watch it on Arizona’s Family Sports, Suns Live or ESPN+.
Listen to the latest podcast episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below. Stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod onApple,Spotify,YouTube,YouTube Podcasts,Amazon Music,Podbean,Castbox.
Please subscribe, rate, and review.