In a strategic move ahead of the 2024-25 NBA season, the Phoenix Suns have waived veteran forward Nassir Little and second-year guard EJ Liddell, as reported by Shams Charania. This decision frees up a valuable roster spot for the Suns, who are navigating the challenges of maintaining the league’s highest payroll at $219 million.
The Suns’ financial situation is constrained by the NBA’s “second apron,” a spending threshold that imposes significant limitations on teams that exceed it. With their payroll soaring above this threshold, the Suns face several restrictions: they cannot aggregate salaries in trades, trade for more money than they send out, use any form of the mid-level exception or sign players on the buy-out market whose initial salary exceeded the non-taxpayer mid-level exception. As a result, signing free agents to minimum contracts has become their most viable option for adding players. This was evident earlier this summer when they brought Tyus Jones on board.
By waiving Little and Liddell, the Suns now have the flexibility to fill the empty roster spot, whether they choose to do so immediately or wait until later in the season. Charania also noted that the team has been impressed with rookies Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro, who are likely to see increased playing time with Little no longer in the mix.
It’s important to mention that the Suns are using the NBA’s stretch provision to waive Little. This means his remaining salary will be spread out over the next seven years on their cap sheet. Little had three years and $21 million left on his contract, which will result in a $3 million annual hit to the Suns’ payroll until 2032.
Little, originally drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft, was traded to Phoenix as part of the complex Damian Lillard-Jrue Holiday deal. During his single season with the Suns, he averaged 3.4 points and 1.7 rebounds over 45 games. With his release, Little will have the opportunity to sign with another team as training camps approach.
EJ Liddell’s professional journey has been marred by setbacks. A second-round pick by the New Orleans Pelicans in 2022, EJ Liddell suffered a torn ACL during his first Summer League, forcing him to miss his entire rookie season. He returned last season but managed to play in just eight games for the Pelicans, spending much of his time in the G League. In a series of trades, Liddell was moved from the Pelicans to the Atlanta Hawks as part of the Dejounte Murray deal, and then to the Suns in exchange for David Roddy. Now, he finds himself looking for a new team once again as the upcoming season approaches.
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