Rival closing in on signing former Suns' role player fans wanted more of

Barring an unforeseen development in the Jonathan Kuminga situation out in San Francisco - which does not look likely at this point - the Phoenix Suns have finished with all of the major roster changes they undertook this offseason. Their team now being reshaped around Devin Booker, although plenty of question marks exist around that supporting cast.

One player who will not be back in The Valley for 2025-26 is Cody Martin, who the Suns secured in a trade with the Charlotte Hornets at the trade deadline. That will forever go down in Phoenix as the deal that finally rid the franchise of center Jusuf Nurkic, and for that reason alone Martin will be remembered fondly for his brief, 14 game stint.

Martin a target for the Golden State Warriors in blow to Suns.

The reason the Suns couldn't keep Martin this offseason - they let him go as soon as the campaign was finished - was more to do with money than anything else. At that point the organization was still in the second apron, and this was before Kevin Durant was traded and Bradley Beal was bought out.

To avoid paying an absurd amount of luxury tax Martin - as well as Vasilije Micić - had to go, which is exactly what happened. But with the 29-year-old Martin remaining unsigned - and with the Warriors having in theory six roster spots still available - Jake Fischer has reported that Golden State has interest in Martin.

From their perspective it would make a lot of sense, even if the Kuminga situation is holding up much of the business they want to get done. The belief is that they only have three open roster spots really, as the likes of Al Horford have been promised one as soon as the Kuminga situation has been resolved. If it ever is.

But the Warriors lucking into Martin is a problem for Phoenix, because he's exactly the kind of player this new version of their roster could have done with. A veteran who can defend several positions on the court, and who could have excelled playing next to a guy like Dillon Brooks who attempts to bring the best out of his teammates on that end.

We've already seen him play hard while in The Valley, and as an older player he could have taken the likes of 18-year-old Khaman Maluach under his wing. Offensively he's far from a zero out there, although one of his best qualities is how he can exist next to superstars such as Durant and Booker. That skill set is again going to be important this season, even though the Suns aren't contending.

The offensive strategy is going to involve a lot of Booker or Jalen Green having the ball, and Martin could have picked his spots while backing up Brooks off the bench on the other end. These are qualities the Warriors instead are likely to profit from, and already it feels like Martin is one that got away. Right player, wrong time unfortunately.