Report: Former Suns guard Archie Goodwin to sign with Pelicans

Former Suns guard Archie Goodwin has reached an agreement with the New Orleans Pelicans on a two-year deal, reports The Vertical’s Shams Charania.

Goodwin appeared to be headed for another role outside of the Suns’ rotation with a guard depth chart that includes Eric Bledsoe, Devin Booker, Brandon Knight, Leandro Barbosa and Tyler Ulis. But Phoenix released Goodwin Oct. 24 to set the 15-man regular season roster, eating Goodwin’s final year of his rookie deal to allow him to find a better opportunity.

The Pelicans, on the other hand, could immediately use Goodwin’s scoring ability.

While forward Anthony Davis has led the team scoring 30 points per game, injuries and absences have put New Orleans second-to-last with an offensive rating of 94.9 points per 100 possessions.

The team just lost Lance Stephenson to a groin injury that will require surgery and Charania reports the Pelicans will waive him in order to make room for Goodwin. He will join a backcourt of point guard Tim Frazier, defensive combo guard E’Twaun Moore, and Langston Galloway and Buddy Hield off the bench.

Guard Jrue Holiday will join the fold when he returns from a prolonged absence due to the health of his wife.

Goodwin, a 2013 first-round (29th overall) pick, averaged 8.9 points, 2.1 assists and 2.5 rebounds in 19.5 minutes per game last season. The 22-year-old shot 42 percent from the floor.

Suns general manager Ryan McDonough said on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM before the season that Goodwin’s representatives had requested a trade but the Suns could not find a deal.

“We felt like we got down to 16 really good, quality NBA players. Archie and his agents for the last few months asked us to accommodate a trade request,” McDonough said. “With that in mind, we told Archie and his agent we’d try to help him move to a team where he’d have an opportunity and play,” the general manager added. “Unfortunately, we weren’t able to work out a deal.”

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