The Phoenix Suns are officially parting ways with Cole Anthony

The Phoenix Suns mildly shook things up at the February trade deadline by sending Nick Richards and Nigel Hayes-Davis away in exchange for Amir Coffey and Cole Anthony. On the surface, it was a deal that made sense. Phoenix needed to get off some money to get under the luxury tax line, and both Richards and NHD were the expendable assets to do so. Both players seemed to fit the Suns’ style: gritty, tough, disruptive.

Reports surfaced immediately that the team had no intention of keeping Anthony long-term, however.

The reasoning was simple. The Suns already had Jamaree Bouyea on a two-way contract, and the front office views him as the right fit for that specific role. Bouyea has taken advantage of the opportunity allotted to him, and while nothing is official as of yet, I would not be surprised if this were the next roster-related domino to fall.

While he played in 35 games for the Milwaukee Bucks, averaging 6.7 points on 42/30/62 splits, Anthony has consistently appeared on the injury report with a “not with team” designation.

That situation reached its conclusion today. The Suns are officially waiving Cole Anthony.

As Arizona Sports Suns insider John Gambadoro notes, the team was looking to see if a buyout was possible. A buyout would save the team some money if a deal could have been reached. Ultimately, that did not occur, so the organization opted to waive him.

This move allows the organization to convert Bouyea to a guaranteed deal while also freeing up a two-way roster spot. It remains to be seen if the Suns will fill that final opening immediately, but their track record with player development suggests they likely will.

As for Anthony, he now enters the market looking for his next opportunity on either a standard or two-way contract.