The Phoenix Suns have claimed Jordan Goodwin off waivers after the Lakers let him go, according to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto on Wednesday.
Goodwin and Shake Milton were both cut by the Lakers to make room for Marcus Smart, freeing up $4.2 million in cap space.
The 26-year-old guard had just $25,000 guaranteed on his contract. Milton’s deal would have become fully guaranteed for $3 million on Sunday if he hadn’t been waived.
This actually marks Goodwin’s second stint with Phoenix. Funny enough, he’s now returning to a team that traded him away just months ago.
In his four NBA seasons, Goodwin has played 150 regular-season games, starting 24 of them. He’s averaged 6.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in about 18 minutes per game.
His shooting has been decent but not spectacular – 41% overall and 32.3% from three-point range.
Goodwin took an unusual path to the NBA. After going undrafted out of Saint Louis University in 2021, he signed with the Washington Wizards and spent his first two seasons there.
The Suns first acquired him in the Bradley Beal trade back in June 2023. After 40 games with Phoenix, they shipped him to Brooklyn at the February trade deadline. Brooklyn quickly waived him, and he finished last season with Memphis before joining the Lakers.
With LA last season, he put up 5.6 points, grabbed 3.9 rebounds, and dished 1.4 assists per game while shooting a solid 43.8% from the floor.
He had his best scoring nights of the season against Utah and Brooklyn, dropping 17 points in both games.
Suns Reshaping Their Roster
The Suns have been incredibly busy this offseason, completely transforming their team to get under the NBA’s second tax apron.
They shocked the basketball world by trading superstar Kevin Durant to Houston and buying out Bradley Beal’s massive contract.
Phoenix hasn’t just been subtracting talent, though. They’ve added defensive specialist Dillon Brooks and young center Mark Williams to the mix.
Guard Jared Butler has also reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with the team, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Perhaps their biggest move was locking up franchise cornerstone Devin Booker to a massive two-year, $145 million extension. This deal will keep him in Phoenix through the 2029-30 season.
It’s the highest annual extension salary in NBA history.
According to Spotrac, Booker now has a total of five years and $316 million remaining on his Suns contract.
His $72.5 million annual salary edges out Oklahoma City star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s previous record extension, which averages $71.25 million per year.
