Jordan Goodwin reportedly claimed by Suns after Lakers waived him
The Phoenix Suns are reuniting with combo guard Jordan Goodwin via waivers after the Los Angles Lakers cut him, reports Shams Charania.
Watch: Dillon Brooks got extended, and we tier out the Suns' Western Conference | 56 mins
The Phoenix Suns are reuniting with combo guard Jordan Goodwin via waivers after the Los Angles Lakers cut him this past week, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Goodwin has bounced around after spending his first two NBA seasons with the Washington Wizards. He was included in the Bradley Beal-for-Chris Paul swap between Phoenix and Washington two years ago and played 40 games for the Suns in 2023-24.
Goodwin was shipped to the Brooklyn Nets in the Royce O’Neale deal at that trade deadline but was immediately waived. He joined the injury-plagued Grizzlies for the rest of that season, averaging 10.0 points, 4.5 assists and 8.0 rebounds in 17 games (12 starts).
The 26-year-old combo guard played in 29 games for the Lakers last year, averaging 5.6 points and 3.9 boards per outing.
The Lakers had picked up the $2.3 million team option on his contract but waived Goodwin to open the opportunity to sign Marcus Smart.
How Jordan Goodwin fits in the Phoenix Suns’ backcourt
Even after the addition of Goodwin, true point guard depth remains shallow compared to the logjam at shooting guard.
Goodwin joins a Phoenix backcourt that includes point guard Collin Gillespie, who will play on a standard contract in 2025-26 after impressing as a two-way player last year.
Going into 2025-26, Phoenix now rosters four shooting guards — Booker, Jalen Green, Grayson Allen and two-way rookie Koby Brea — while Dillon Brooks and Royce O’Neale are shooting guard-sized wings.
It’s been a problem for Phoenix dating back to when it traded Chris Paul for Bradley Beal before the 2023-24 season.
Since then, Devin Booker has been forced to handle much of the playmaking duties, while Tyus Jones is the only true point guard to get regular rotation minutes over a season for the Suns.
Goodwin, Gillespie, Saben Lee, Theo Maledon, Isaiah Thomas, Monte Morris, TyTy Washington Jr. and Vasilije Micic are the other point guards who have seen limited run in that span, with Gillespie catching on the most.
The Suns’ waive-and-stretch of Beal this offseason not only opened a roster spot — the Suns still have one left after the Goodwin signing — but allowed Phoenix to utilize the midlevel and biannual exceptions that it did not have the last two years while operating above the second apron.
Kevin Zimmerman and Damon Allred contributed to this story.
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Comments
21 Comments
Good motor. Good on ball defender. Quick hands. Good court awareness especially on loose balls and rebounds.
Good enough shooter not to be a liability. Good off ball cutter.
I like it. Moves the needle in the right direction
BINGO!! 100% Book/Green/Brooks/Dunn/Williams
Richards will be my bench Center. I don't want to see Maluach play in a NBA game until half way through the season or unless Williams and Richards gets injured.
If NBA is going to draft Teenagers with lack of NBA fundamental basketball skills then Maluach needs to spend time now, getting stronger in his legs and core, Work on getting even better FT%, Work on inside game, pick and rolls.
Maluach was a great pick. but let's really do him a favor and really bring him along slowly and smartly. What I don't want see Suns do is play him 12 minutes a game and he is driving to the basket from the top of the key, or jacking up a 3pt shot in the corner. He needs to master the PAINT and play 12 ft to rim. .
Bfan, You got to be kidding Brotha! You're starting Gillespie and going small ball with 3 guards, 1 SG/SF and 1 Center because you are that derailed over a PG. Why start Williams at this point? Maybe Ryan Dunn can be center. If you going to go all in then go Full Monty if your losing it. :)
You have fun making Gillespie a starting PG and I will stick with Book as PG until a better option comes along. Love you man, I just want to bring you in off the ledge. I'm looking out for ya.