As the Miami Heat and Phoenix Suns continue to hold ongoing trade talks centered around Kevin Durant, there's one familiar name that has popped up as a player the former may be asking for: Cody Martin. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Heat holds an "affinity" for Martin.
After jump-starting the career of his twin brother, Caleb, it's no surprise that the Heat may be interested in Cody as they look to close a potential deal for KD.
Cody spent the first six years of his career with the Charlotte Hornets, but was recently traded to the Phoenix Suns. After not carving out a consistent role in Phoenix to end last season, there's a reason to believe he could be on the move again. The Heat would love to absorb his expiring contract in a larger KD deal.
For Miami, adding Martin would make a ton of sense. Not only would he give the Heat another versatile wing, but also another reclamation project who could pay dividends down the line for the team, not to mention the financial flexibility he would also offer the Heat after this season.
It's unclear if Martin is a concrete part of the KD trade talks, but if he's involved on any front, the Heat would have to add even more salary to a potential deal. That could make a two-team deal between the Heat and Suns even more complicated. That makes me believe that the trade talks the Heat and Suns are holding probably revolve around a three or four-team deal.
A timeline on a Kevin Durant trade
Nevertheless, even though the Suns and Heat may be talking, it's almost impossible to predict when a possible KD trade could go down, whether he's sent to Miami or another team. It could happen at any given moment, or could even stretch into next week.
At this point, a worst-case scenario of these trade talks leaking into NBA Draft night is not completely off the table either.
Ideally, of course, that won't happen. Especially for the Heat's sake, they'd like at least some sort of resolution on the KD trade front. For better or worse, knowing the outcome of those trade talks will help the team narrow their approach heading into NBA Draft night. Honestly, the Suns would probably agree.
As the Heat looks to close a deal on KD, there's appears to be another wrinkle that has entered the fray. How Martin factors into a potential deal remains to be seen, but it's certainly one added detail to keep an eye on.