The Phoenix Suns have agreed to trade forward David Roddy to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for E.J. Liddell, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Liddell was sent from the Hawks to the Pelicans on July 6 as part of the Dejounte Murray trade.
New Orleans drafted Liddell 41st overall in 2022.
This trade essentially swaps jumbo forwards at the backend of the Suns’ roster and provides a small salary cut that will reduce their tax burden. Roddy was set to earn $2.8 million in 2024-25 with a club option worth $4.8 million for 2025-26.
Liddell’s contract is $2.1 million for the next season with a club option for $2.3 million the following year.
The 6-foot-6, 240-pound scorer has played in eight NBA games for the Pelicans after a successful college career at Ohio State.
He had a standout junior year with the Buckeyes in 2021-22, averaging 19.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.6 blocks per game, shooting 49% overall and 37.4% from three-point range.
However, his college success hasn’t fully translated to the NBA, and a July 2022 ACL injury hindered his progress. In 23 games with the G League’s Birmingham Stallions last season, Liddell averaged 17.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game, shooting 50.4% from the field and 27% from deep on 4.4 attempts per game.
Roddy’s 17 games played with Phoenix could indicate Liddell’s role in the team, likely behind a perimeter-focused rotation including stars like Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. Veterans Royce O’Neale, Josh Okogie, Bol Bol, and Nassir Little, as well as rookie Ryan Dunn, would also take minutes at forward. Nevertheless, Liddell’s size and rebounding with some scoring ability offer Phoenix another forward option.
Roddy was acquired by Phoenix in the three-team O’Neale trade last February from the Memphis Grizzlies.
He has career averages of 6.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists over 135 NBA appearances. Despite being only 23, he appeared to be competing for his spot on the Suns’ Summer League squad this offseason.
