NBA contract update: Cole Anthony leaving Phoenix Suns? Team make surprising roster move, part ways with former first-round guard in unexpected decision

On Friday, the Phoenix Suns announced a somewhat unexpected roster change. The Suns cut guard Cole Anthony, Shams Charania of ESPN reported. The Phoenix Suns acquired Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey from the Milwaukee Bucks in a three-team trade back at the deadline.

Anthony hasn’t been a part of the Suns’ rotation since he joined, but Coffey has. According to NBA source Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, the Suns were always considering eliminating Cole Anthony from the roster. According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the franchise ultimately did so on Friday.

The Phoenix Suns cut guard Cole Anthony, according to sources who spoke to Shams Charania of ESPN on Friday. Anthony signed a multi-team trade with the Suns at the beginning of February. He hasn’t played for Phoenix; in recent games, he has been sidelined and listed as not with the club, which led to the Suns dismissing him.

Now, he has been waived. Announcing the news, Shams Charania wrote on X:

“The Phoenix Suns have waived guard Cole Anthony, sources tell ESPN. Anthony averaged 6.7 points in 35 games for the Bucks before being moved at the NBA trade deadline…”

Cole Anthony can clear waivers before the March 1 buyout deadline and potentially be selected by another team because he did not join the Suns’ roster after the deadline.

The 25-year-old also participated in the historic agreement between Memphis and Orlando last June, which sent Grizzlies star Desmond Bane to the Magic in exchange for Anthony, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, four unprotected first-round picks, and one first-round pick.

He was discharged by Memphis and signed a two-year contract with the Milwaukee Bucks in July 2025 after being dealt from the Magic to the Memphis Grizzlies in the previous summer in a transaction involving Desmond Bane.

Siegel said there are foreign organizations who have shown interest in Anthony, but another team might sign him to a 10-day deal or for the remainder of the season. However, it’s possible that he is still looking for another NBA opportunity at this time.

The Orlando Magic selected Anthony with the 15th overall choice in the 2020 NBA Draft. The Magic acquired him in an offseason deal for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope from the Memphis Grizzlies after he spent five seasons with the organization. Anthony joined the Bucks after the Grizzlies cut him before the season began.

At just over 15 minutes per game, Anthony had made 35 appearances for the Bucks. With splits of 42.4 percent shooting from the field, 30.6 percent shooting from the 3-point line, and 61.5 percent shooting from the free-throw line, he has averaged 6.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists.

Jamaree Bouyea, a guard on a two-way contract, may be changed to a normal contract now that the Suns have a vacant roster spot. Following his acquisition from the Brooklyn Nets earlier this month, Haywood Highsmith also inked a contract with the Suns.