After an unsuccessful brief stint with the Phoenix Suns, Cody Martin has found himself still without a team this summer. That may not be for long, though, as he has reportedly garnered interest (subscription required) from "numerous playoff teams," per NBA insider Jake Fischer. Charlotte Hornets fans might have a hard time believing the rumor, considering that Martin was deemed expendable by a lottery-bound squad earlier this year.
Fischer noted that at least one franchise has targeted Martin as of late — the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors are supposedly waiting for the Jonathan Kuminga saga to iron itself out before rounding out the roster. Interestingly, Martin could reunite with a former Hornets teammate in Golden State if that's where both of them are headed.
However, the Dubs could have competition for the defensive-minded swingman if the word on the street rings true. It's intriguing that Martin would turn out to be such a hot commodity, given how he has performed in recent years.
To be fair, the former second-round pick had proven to be a pesky defender before, and the way he hustles on the floor has earned him the admiration of some viewers. The problem is that he is turning 30 in September, which could mean that his athleticism and motor have likely started to wane.
It would be fine if Martin could contribute elsewhere on the court, primarily on the offensive end. However, his 3-point shooting has been pretty shaky throughout his career, except when he sank 38.4 percent of his tries from that range in the 2021-22 campaign. Aside from that outlier, he has never shot better than 31.4 percent in any other season.
The Hornets were somehow able to squeeze some playmaking capabilities from the six-year pro, but he looked too much like a fish out of water when tasked with handling the ball.
So, if all he can offer a team is his solid, if not strong, wing defense without contributing much on the other end of the court, it's still impressive that some contenders are considering adding him.
Hornets also need a perimeter defender, but a reunion is unlikely
It's worth noting that the Hornets also have a massive hole in the perimeter defense department. However, bringing back Martin in free agency hasn't appeared to be an option for the front office. After all, it was likely raring to split from him prior to last season's trade deadline and was fortunate that Phoenix was willing to take him in the Jusuf Nurkic salary dump deal that netted Charlotte a future first-round pick.
Perhaps Phoenix was hoping that Martin could be the perfect piece to slot alongside Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal in their pursuit of a deep playoff run. Unfortunately, the former Hornet failed to find his footing after sitting out his first 17 games as a member of the Suns due to a hernia. The squad then missed the postseason after finishing 11th in the Western Conference.
Only time will tell where Martin ends up this offseason. While many Hornets fans are happy that he is gone, some of them are likely wishing that he could still find a new home, especially since he did give his best whenever he was healthy enough to be on the floor during his time with Charlotte.