Former Hawks striker released by Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns made a couple of transactions yesterday, one of which involved a former Hawks forward. Atlanta had acquired EJ Liddell from the New Orleans Pelicans in the Dejounte Murray trade earlier in the offseason, and after he played for them in this year's Summer League, they traded Liddell to the Phoenix Suns for David Roddy. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Liddell will be released by Phoenix, as will Nasir Little. Phoenix wanted to create an open spot on the roster and did so by releasing both players.

It was a strange move when the Hawks traded Liddell. He's a promising player, and Roddy is a (slightly) more expensive and arguably worse player. Unless he gets injured, he won't play many minutes, but you could argue the Hawks shouldn't have made that trade.

Roddy played 65 games (13 starts) for Memphis (48 games) and Phoenix (17 games) during the 2023-24 season, averaging 6.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 18.1 minutes (.403 FG%, .691 FT%). He scored 10 or more points in 18 games last season and twice grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds. 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 6-5 forward scored a season-high 19 points and hit a career-high five three-pointers in a 105-91 win over the Jazz.

Most recently, he appeared in five games (all starts) with Phoenix in 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%).

Roddy was selected 23rd overall in the 2022 NBA Draft by Philadelphia, and Memphis acquired his draft rights along with Danny Green from the 76ers in exchange for De'Anthony Melton. Roddy appeared in 135 career games (17 starts) playing 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 appeared in eight postseason games, recording 2.9 points and 2.1 rebounds in 9.9 minutes of playing time. Roddy also appeared in four NBA G League games with the Memphis Hustle, recording 20.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 33.0 minutes.

Roddy enjoyed a three-year college career at Colorado State from 2019-2022. In his three seasons, he appeared in 91 games (76 starts) and averaged 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.