The Suns waived Vince Carter and Gani Lawal today.
Carter's waiver was planned since the time they acquired him nearly a year ago. His contract's final year was worth $18 million but only $4 million of it was guaranteed. The Suns extended the deadline to waive him in June to delay the $4 million payment.
Carter, 34, averaged 13.5 points and 3.6 rebounds in 51 games with the Suns, starting 41 of them. He was acquired with Marcin Gortat and Mickael Pietrus from Orlando on Dec. 18 for Jason Richardson, Earl Clark and Hedo Turkoglu.
Lawal became a victim of the Suns' depth at power forward, where they have Channing Frye, Hakim Warrick and rookie first-round draft pick Markieff Morris. A portion of Lawal's salary would have become guaranteed if he had made the training camp roster.
Lawal, who has been playing in Poland, underwent knee surgery at the start of the year after he tore his anterior cruciate ligament and partially tore his medial collateral ligament in practice. He had made one appearance with the Suns for two minutes. Lawal, 23, was the final move made by the previous Suns regime when it drafted him 46th overall in the 2010 draft.
