(Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)
At this point, it’s common knowledge that the Miami Heat are deeply entrenched in acquiring Kevin Durant, with this week’s draft signaled as Phoenix’s “soft deadline” to offload the 15-time All-Star, who is entering the final year of his contract.
In regards to the Heat, what we do know is that the Suns have zero leverage, and that second-year Heat center Kel’el Ware appears to be the sticking point. Another detail that we do know is that the Heat–like the Houston Rockets–can offer salary relief in any trade.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, Durant may not be the only one heading out of Phoenix in any trade, however, as forward Cody Martin–acquired at the deadline in the Jusuf Nurkic-Nick Richards swap–has generated interest. And the Miami Heat appear to be one of those teams.
“Another valuable footnote stemming from this week’s widespread Durant trade talks: League sources say several teams have registered interest in the Suns’ Cody Martin,” Stein wrote Saturday. “The veteran swingman could very well factor into any direct or multi-team deal that Phoenix inevitably puts together to ship out the NBA’s No. 8 all-time leading scorer.
“Miami, to name one example, is known to hold an affinity for Martin, sources say. The Heat certainly developed a familiarity for Martin while Miami rostered his twin brother Caleb.”
Martin, the twin brother of Caleb Martin, who played with the Heat for three seasons (2021-24), has battled lower body injuries each of the last three seasons, appearing in just 88 combined games, including 53 a season ago. In 2024-25, he averaged just 6.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.1 steals on 41.8 percent shooting, including 28.5 percent from 3-point range and 70.5 percent from the charity stripe.
Unlike Caleb, Cody is a more established “point forward,” so don’t necessarily be fooled by his low assist numbers. He’s never been the shooter or scorer that Caleb is, but he’s an adequate rebounder, passer and point-of-attack defender.
Martin, 29, owns a $8.7 million non-guaranteed contract for the 2025-26 season, which doesn’t become fully guaranteed until June 30. Thus, he could give the Heat or any other team acquiring him additional salary relief.
Any trade involving Martin does complicate matters for all sides since Phoenix is a second-apron team; it’s now about where they start, but about where they finish in the trade. Though the Suns are still over $11 million into the second apron at the time of this publishing, according to Spotrac.
Miami also has a crowded wing room with Andrew Wiggins, Duncan Robinson, Kyle Anderson, Haywood Highsmith, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic; a few of those names are presumed to be included in a Durant trade, however.
***
To check out our other content, click here.
Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Twitter/X here!
Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Instagram here!
Subscribe to our YouTube channel here!