The Los Angeles Lakers waived Jordan Goodwin in the offseason despite him being a strong performer.
One of the most surprising decisions this offseason was the Los Angeles Lakers choosing to release Jordan Goodwin this offseason.
The Lakers converted Goodwin’s two-way contract to a full-time contract, so they had to waive him to sign Marcus Smart.
The Lakers tried to keep Goodwin in a combination trade, but it didn’t work out and they made a difficult decision.
Goodwin had a strong performance in the first preseason game against the Lakers. And he did even better tonight, especially compared to the fired Marcus Smart.
Jordan Goodwin had 24 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds against the Los Angeles Lakers.
In fact, Goodwin scored just one point less than Lakers leading scorers Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves with 25 points each.
But Goodwin’s numbers look even better when compared to Marcus Smart, who made his preseason debut with the Los Angeles Lakers.
It was an unforgettable debut for Smart. He played 20 minutes and only recorded one assist and two personal fouls during the game.
Smart is by no means an all-around offensive player, but it’s not a great look when he doesn’t even take a shot in a game, even in the preseason.
After the last two games against the Lakers, it’s hard to understand why the franchise would let him go considering what he can bring to the team.
Jordan Goodwin feels like he’s in a strong position with the Phoenix Suns. Given the Suns’ rebuilding efforts, Goodwin could try to improve his game in a non-pressure environment.
In addition, manager Jordan Ott will continue to give players who impressed in the preseason more opportunities as he works to determine the Suns’ ideal rotation.
If Goodwin can earn a spot in the Suns’ rotation going forward, he could potentially earn a big contract in the future.
Although not expected to be a star, Goodwin has a chance to establish himself as a solid role player in the NBA.