It was only during the 2023-24 season that Cody Martin served as a starter for the Charlotte Hornets despite battling injuries. Over a calendar year later and at just 30 years old, he might be on the last leg of his NBA career, as he has failed to impress suiting up for the Indiana Pacers.
The Hornets traded Martin to the Phoenix Suns around the 2025 trade deadline, and he has struggled to find a new home since the Suns waived him last offseason. Intriguingly, there were rumors that "numerous playoff teams" were interested in signing him. Maybe those organizations had thought that being in a winning environment would help the swingman flourish. However, his persistent bout with injuries probably turned off would-be suitors.
As it has turned out, using a roster spot on Martin would have had a contender experiencing buyer's remorse.
Cody Martin is a cautionary tale for defensive-minded wings
The former second-round pick joined Indiana on a 10-day contract, which is going to expire in a few days. Essentially, he only has several contests to audition for a standard contract. Unfortunately, there do not appear to be major strides in his game.
Through four appearances with the shorthanded Pacers, Martin has logged more field-goal attempts than points and more turnovers than assists. He has redeemed himself a bit by being active on the boards and averaging 1.0 steals per match, but that's not really what most NBA teams are looking for in a veteran.
Despite trying to make a name for himself as a defensive stopper, Martin has been more solid than exceptional on that end of the floor. On offense, he has typically been an inefficient shooter and finisher, and he never really developed his long-range marksmanship enough to be at least a dependable 3-and-D guy for the Hornets or any of the two other squads he has been on. In today's NBA, being a player of this archetype is not exactly a successful pathway to becoming a sought-after asset.
If Martin cannot convince the Pacers to give him another shot, and if he cannot land with another franchise, we might see the last of him in the NBA. He does have the option of resuming his professional playing career overseas, similar to what other vets who cannot secure a deal in the Association have done in recent years.
And it's not like Charlotte didn't give Martin enough chances to carve a lengthy tenure in the NBA. But his inability or refusal to develop at least a decent offensive bag should serve as a reminder to other aspiring wing defenders of the importance of keeping up with the times.