The Indiana Pacers have dealt with a plethora of injuries to begin the new season, but it looks like reinforcements are on the way.
According to HoopsHype's Michael Scotto, Indiana signed veteran forward Cody Martin using a hardship exception, which it was given due to its injuries. This means that Martin will be signed to a 10-day contract, so he won't have long to make his presence felt with the team.
The 30-year-old has played six seasons in the NBA since the Charlotte Hornets drafted him with the 36th pick in 2019. Martin spent five full seasons in Charlotte before the team traded him to the Phoenix Suns ahead of the 2025 NBA Trade Deadline.
In 53 games last season, Martin averaged 6.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1.1 steals while shooting 41.8% from the field and 28.5% from beyond the arc.
What does Cody Martin bring to Indiana?
He may not be as good as his twin brother, Caleb, but the North Carolina native does still bring some value.
Martin is mostly known as a defensive specialist in the NBA. He is always locked on and brings the energy. More specifically, he is great at applying pressure and making life difficult for the opposition, which should be music the Pacers fans' ears.
Additionally, he is always contributing in ways that the stat sheet doesn't know. He hustles and takes charges, and he is a great team defender with switchability and versatility. The 6-foot-5 forward is also a good rebounder, averaging 3.7 career boards.
Unfortunately for Martin and Indiana, this is essentially where his list of pros ends.
Martin is not a good three-point shooter, which doesn't bode well for his place with the Pacers. He is a career 30.8% shooter from beyond the arc, but this includes an outlier season in 2021-22, when he shot 38.4% from deep. Furthermore, he is not much of a shot creator, ball-handler, or facilitator.
At this point, the Pacers can't be picky. They're missing about half their team, and things have not gone well for them amid their 1-6 start to the season. They needed to add some more depth, and Martin will provide them with exactly that. How much of an impact he will ultimately make in Indiana remains to be seen, but there is a lot to like about him. And for a Pacers team that needs bodies right now, he could have a bigger opportunity than some may anticipate.