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PHOENIX SUNS

Report: Suns re-sign Jordan Goodwin to 3-year deal

Jordan Goodwin proved to be one of the best possession-gainers in the NBA last year in terms of offensive rebounding and creating steals.

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The Phoenix Suns have agreed to re-sign point guard Jordan Goodwin on a three-year, $19 million contract, reports Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro.

Gambadoro added that the third year is a player option worth $6.8 million, and the contract will start at $5.8 million.

Next, the Suns will work with center Mark Williams in an attempt to come to an agreement.

The 27-year-old guard for the first time in his career found a regular rotation role, averaging 8.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game for a playoff team.

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Goodwin played 70 games last season, which nearly accounts for a third of his 220 NBA games played between the Washington Wizards, Suns, Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Lakers since 2021.

His edge as a primary perimeter defender and improved shooting made him a cog in Phoenix’s rotation. The development of the latter has changed Goodwin’s career trajectory for the better — he shot 37% from deep on 4.3 attempts per game, coming off a 29-game stint with the Lakers a year prior that saw him shoot 38% on almost half the volume.

It was a departure from Goodwin’s 2023-24 tenure with the Suns, in which he shot 29% from 3-point land before he was included in a trade deadline deal that landed him with the Grizzlies.

The offensive development helped round out Goodwin’s ability to contribute on both ends and stay on the court, but it’s his aptitude for earning the Suns more possessions that proved to be a specialized skill.

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The 6-foot-2 guard was third in the NBA in steal rate (3.3%), right after defensive stars Ausar Thompson of the Detroit Pistons and Cason Wallace of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Goodwin was also 15th in offensive rebounding rate (9.4%), which is less impressive until realizing all 14 of the players ahead of him in that category are listed as centers — not even forwards or wings.

Arguably, his best performance came in a must-win NBA Play-In victory over the Golden State Warriors. Not only did Goodwin help hold Stephen Curry to a 4-for-16 night in an elimination game, but he scored 19 points himself with nine rebounds and six steals. The Suns guard scored 13 of those points in the fourth quarter to help the team secure a first-round playoff series.

Goodwin started Game 1 of Phoenix’s series against the Oklahoma City Thunder but was lost for the rest of the series due to a calf injury that cropped up five minutes into that one.

Kevin Zimmerman ArizonaSports.com editor

Kevin Zimmerman is ArizonaSports.com's and KTAR.com's digital content manager and co-host of Arizona Sports' Empire of the Suns podcast. The Mesa native has covered the Suns on-and-off since graduating the University of Arizona in 2011 and also spent… Read more

Comments

4 Comments

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Yeezy Boost 2 months ago

I have to believe Goodwin gave them a discount and wants to be here.

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EarlBlack JesusMonroe 2 months ago

Interesting reports going on regarding Josh Giddey, Jalen Smith and Jalen Green. Apparently, someone in the Suns front office doing their due diligence on 23-year-old Giddey, the 6'-7" PG of the Bulls. A potential deal would be Giddey and former Suns back-up center Jalen Smith for Jalen Green. Sounds like Phoenix would have to throw in a future 1st rd pick.

Adding Smith back to the roster would most likely mean the end of Mark Williams. As you recall Phoenix tried to convert Smith to PF but his natural position is at center. Over the last three season Smith has shot 586 threes and hit 215 of them for a respectable 37%. His per 36 rebounding numbers are close to 12 per game.

My point? Smith is much father ahead in becoming a PF than Oso will ever be. As a bonus the Suns drop $1.8 million in salary against next seasons cap.

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EarlBlack JesusMonroe 2 months ago

Gillespie got $48 million guaranteed over four years while Goodwin only gets $19 million?