They once were above-minimum players on the Suns. Now they are free agents.
It might not technically be Phoenix Suns news, but it involves a players who wore the purple and orange. Teams across the NBA are making their final cuts as they prepare their rosters for the season ahead.
Nassir Little, who the Suns acquired in the trade that sent Deandre Ayton to the Blazers in the summer of 2023, was waived by the team this offseason.
The Suns tried shopping his contract around the league but found no takers. With three years and $20.3 million remaining on his deal, it wasn’t an easy sell. So, they decided to cut him loose.
Little was then picked up by the Miami Heat and entered the preseason looking to earn a roster spot. Unfortunately, it seems that opportunity hasn’t materialized for him.
The Miami Heat have waived Nassir Little, Zyon Pullin, Isaiah Stevens and Warren Washington, team says. pic.twitter.com/eY2XCGJTIF
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) October 19, 2024
Nassir Little has long carried the “high upside player” label since his days at UNC, but in his five NBA seasons, it hasn’t quite come together for him. Across 237 games, he’s averaged 5.5 points with shooting splits of 45.2% from the field, 33.0% from three, and 73.5% from the line. Last season with the Suns, he averaged just 3.5 points per game, which played a big role in the team’s decision to part ways with him. If you’re paying someone $6.3 million, you need more production than that.
Another player to hit free agency is former Sun Landry Shamet.
The New York Knicks are waiving Landry Shamet, sources tell me and @BobbyMarks42. Shamet had a strong preseason, averaging 10.8 points per game. Knicks will likely maintain roster at 12 standard players, and look to bring Shamet back once he recovers from dislocated shoulder. pic.twitter.com/nDCmuXs1G3
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 19, 2024
Shamet’s time in Phoenix was an intriguing one. Acquired in a draft day trade for Jevon Carter and a first-round pick, he was expected to fill the sharpshooter role that Grayson Allen now holds off the bench. Though he shot a respectable 37.1% from beyond the arc during his two seasons with the Suns, his performance was marked by inconsistency. Ultimately, he became a trade asset in the deal that brought Bradley Beal to Phoenix.
After a season with the Washington Wizards, Shamet joined the Knicks this offseason. He suffered a shoulder injury during the preseason but is opting to avoid surgery as he works toward recovery.
Landry Shamet shoulder injury (content warning) pic.twitter.com/pEpEWnGCxS
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) October 16, 2024
The Knicks have decided to waive Shamet following his preseason shoulder injury, though there’s a chance they may bring him back once he’s fully healed. It’s a tough break for a player who’s shown flashes of being a valuable floor-spacer but has struggled to find consistency and stability in recent years. His shooting touch, particularly from three, has always been his calling card, yet injuries and streaky performances have hindered his ability to carve out a long-term role.