Jazz Release Forward KJ Martin, Clear Non-Guaranteed $8M Salary
jazz-release-forward-kj-martin
The Utah Jazz waived forward KJ Martin on September 23, removing his non-guaranteed $8 million deal for the 2025-26 season, the team announced.
Martin, 24, appeared in 19 games for Utah after arriving in February as part of the five-team trade that sent Jimmy Butler to Golden State. He averaged 6.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists across 22.7 minutes, starting nine times.
Earlier in the 2024-25 campaign, the 6-foot-6 forward played 24 contests with the Philadelphia 76ers, posting 6.4 points and 3.0 rebounds in 20.0 minutes per outing. A foot injury limited his availability during that stint.
Selected 52nd overall in the 2020 draft, Martin spent his first three NBA seasons with the Houston Rockets before being included in a five-team deal to the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2023 offseason. He logged just two games for the Clippers before another five-team trade sent him to Philadelphia in November 2023 as part of the James Harden transaction. Martin re-signed with the 76ers on a two-year, $16 million contract in 2024.
Utah now holds 15 guaranteed contracts and one extra spot for training camp. According to salary-cap analyst Keith Smith, the move gives the Jazz the ability to generate up to $10.5 million in cap space, though the franchise remains above the cap due to an $18.4 million traded-player exception tied to John Collins.
Martin will become an unrestricted free agent if he clears waivers, making him available to teams seeking depth at the forward positions.
Source: Hoops Rumors
