The Suns and Hawks have agreed to a minor trade, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who reports (via Twitter) that Phoenix is sending forward David Roddy to Atlanta in exchange for forward E.J. Liddell.
It’s a cost-saving move for Phoenix, which is above the second tax apron and cannot take in more salary than it ships out in a trade.
Liddell has a $2.1MM contract and a $2.3MM salary for 2025/26 that includes a club option. Roddy has a $2.8MM salary and a $4.8MM salary for 2025/26 which also includes a team option. Atlanta has until October 31st to exercise its option on Roddy’s 2025/26 contract, ESPN’s Bobby Marks notes (Twitter link).
Roddy was shipped from Memphis to Phoenix in a three-team deal at last season’s trade deadline. The 23rd overall pick of the 2022 draft will be entering his third season. He started 13 of 48 games for the banged-up Grizzlies last season, averaging 8.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 23.7 minutes per contest. He saw less action in a Suns uniform, appearing in 17 games off the bench and averaging just 3.7 minutes in those outings.
It remains to be seen how Roddy slots in to the Hawks’ plans, since they have a number of options at both forward spots. It stands to reason they value him over Liddell, since they’ll add some salary in this transaction. Indeed, Lauren Williams of the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports via a person familiar with the trade that the Hawks view Roddy as a better fit than Liddell.
Liddell, a 2022 second-rounder out of Ohio State, has only been Atlanta property since July 6. He was thrown into the Dejounte Murray blockbuster with New Orleans.
Liddell had his rookie season delayed by a devastating right knee injury in July 2022. Last season, he appeared in just eight games off the bench for New Orleans. He played 26 games for the G League Birmingham Squadron, averaging 17.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks.