Is the second time the charm?
On Wednesday, the Phoenix Suns claimed Jordan Goodwin off waivers, a name you might’ve forgotten, but one worth remembering. So who is he now? Let’s reintroduce you.
Jordan Goodwin
Guard, 6’3”, 200 pounds, 26 years old, 4 years of NBA experience
Jordan Goodwin has presented himself as a scrappy defensive guard in his short tenure in the league so far. He has played for the Washington Wizards, Phoenix Suns, Memphis Grizzlies, and Los Angeles Lakers. Initially, he was part of the Bradley Beal trade alongside Isaiah Todd. That landed him in the Valley for the first half of that season until he was traded to the Grizzlies and then waived.
He then played on a two-way contract for the Grizzlies and remained there. Last season, when he signed with the Lakers. This is where he was able to showcase his ability to be a solid on-ball, relentless defender, while also shooting the three at a career-high 38% on 2.3 attempts. This season, he is seeking an opportunity to reassert his dominance, and the Suns have a void in that role on the team.
2024-2025 Recap
As I stated above, this was the season when many people started to recognize who Jordan Goodwin was and what he could bring to a team. He started on a two-way contract but was converted to a standard deal in February, making him available in case of the playoffs. In only 29 games for the Lakers this year, he cemented himself as someone to keep an eye on, once he was waived. He only started in five of those contests, but averaged around 19 minutes per night. During that time, he averaged 5.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and one steal.
His addition to the lineup helped complement guys like Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, allowing them to run the offense and be the scoring options, while Goodwin could take on the team’s best scorer. He reminded me of a guy like Dante Exum for the Dallas Mavericks when Luka was there. He does a lot of the little things while being helpful on both sides, with either getting a stop or hitting a three.
In the playoffs, he ultimately saw very little playing time and was waived alongside Shake Milton to clear the way for the Marcus Smart signing. Many Lakers fans were upset that he provided significant value on a team-friendly deal, with still some promise in the 26-year-old.
With him having this opportunity to play alongside some stars already, he will likely fit in nicely alongside Devin Booker and Jalen Green, helping to disrupt their offensive flow, which intrigues me.
Contract Details
Since Jordan Goodwin was claimed off waivers by the Suns, they will retain his $2.3 million deal that the Lakers waived. Since he had a partial guarantee in his contract, the Lakers owed $25k of dead money on their books. That being said, since he was claimed, it is no longer the Lakers’ problem and is now added to the Suns’ books. This is a one-year deal and will expire at the end of the season. If the Suns were to waive him similarly to how the Lakers did, they would then incur the $25,000 hit on their books.
Goodwin has a $2.3M contract with only $25K guaranteed. The remainder is fully protected if not waived by Jan. 7.
Good value claim with no risk
$25K comes off the books for the Lakers. https://t.co/iAugzVGvnL
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 23, 2025
Strengths and Weaknesses
Goodwin, like I mentioned, is a very scrappy on-ball defender who can be a solid disruptor in the secondary unit. His ability to guard top-tier offensive guards and limit them, especially in the West, will help out the Suns on that end. The Suns also do not present this role on the team. The only other guards are Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Grayson Allen, Collin Gillespie, and another newcomer, Jared Butler. That being said, neither of them specializes on the defensive end, and Goodwin can stand out in that regard.
Let’s not forget that he also shot his career best from three with two dynamic playmakers in Luka and Lebron. Booker is going to be the team’s primary playmaker and initiator of the offense, and you can only figure he will get some opportunities as well, playing off the great playmaking that Booker presents. Goodwin, as a catch-and-shoot scorer, could also show some great value, especially on a minimum-type deal for the Suns. For a team trying to figure out its identity and strike on these reclamation projects, this one is very intriguing.
Now his weaknesses would revolve around his shot selection and the consistency of his shots on the offensive end. With that being said, though, I don’t believe that is what he will be used for. If anything, he will be the person least likely to take a shot in a lineup. As long as he was able to wisen up on that end, I think it looks all good.
My Prediction
Goodwin will make a solid impact for a team trying to find a direction. He will also be competing with the new guard, Jared Butler, for these minutes. That should spark some competitive nature and bring out the best in Goodwin, which already looks promising from his Recent tenure with the Lakers. If he can provide the same role, he could find himself running some rotational two-guard minutes alongside Booker, Green, and Gilespie, trying to wreak havoc on the defensive end. I am genuinely intrigued by this addition.
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