The Phoenix Suns made a few trades yesterday and one of them involved a former Hawks forward. Atlanta acquired EJ Liddell from the New Orleans Pelicans in the Dejounte Murray trade earlier in the offseason and after playing for them during this year’s Summer League, they exchanged Liddell at the Phoenix Suns for David Roddy. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Liddell is being released by Phoenix, as is Nasir Little. Phoenix wanted to create a free spot in their roster and did so by releasing both players.
The Phoenix Suns will waive forwards Nassir Little and EJ Liddell, according to sources. By releasing both, the Suns open up a roster spot and create flexibility for sign-and-trades during the offseason. The Suns will extend the remaining three years and $22 million on Little’s contract. pic.twitter.com/UTsuimA2yX
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 21, 2024
It was a curious move for the Hawks to make when Liddell was traded. He’s a prospect who has shown promise and Roddy is a more expensive (slightly) and arguably less valuable player to have. He won’t play many minutes barring injury, but one could argue that the Hawks shouldn’t have made the trade.
Roddy played in 65 games (including 13 as a start) in the 2023-24 season with Memphis (48 games) and Phoenix (17 games), averaging 6.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 18.1 minutes (.403 FG%, .691 FT%). He scored double-digits in 18 games last season and tied his career high by tying 10 rebounds twice. In his 13 starts, Roddy averaged 11.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 29.9 minutes (.410 FG%, .667 FT%). In his second start of the season on Nov. 29 against Utah, the 6-foot-5 forward scored a season-high 19 points and made a career-high five triples in a 105-91 victory over the Jazz.
He recently played five games (all as a starter) with Phoenix during the NBA 2K25 Summer League, recording 14.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 25.5 minutes (.458 FG%, .367 3FG%, .818 FT%).
Selected by Philadelphia with the 23rd overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Roddy’s draft rights were acquired by Memphis, along with Danny Green from the 76ers, in exchange for De’Anthony Melton. Roddy has appeared in 135 career games (17 starts) for Memphis and Phoenix, averaging 6.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 18.0 minutes (.416 FG%, .301 3FG%, .662 FT%). He has appeared in eight career postseason games, scoring 2.9 points and 2.1 rebounds in 9.9 minutes of play. Roddy has also appeared in four career NBA G League games with the Memphis Hustle, averaging 20.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 33.0 minutes.
Roddy enjoyed a three-year collegiate career at Colorado State from 2019-22. Over his three seasons, he played in 91 games (76 starts), averaging 15.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 29.9 minutes (.522 FG%, .319 3FG%, .739 FT%). In his final season at Colorado State, the Minneapolis, Minnesota native was named the 2021-22 Mountain West Conference Player of the Year.
