Reunited in the Valley
Guard, 6’3”, 200 pounds, 26 years old, 4 years of NBA experience
Jordan Goodwin is back.
The Phoenix Suns claimed the 26-year-old guard off waivers on July 23 after the Lakers cut him to make room for roster shuffling. It is a low-cost move with real upside, and it puts a familiar defender back into a backcourt that needs on-ball pressure and second-unit stability.
Goodwin’s profile is the same one many Suns fans will remember. He is a physical point-of-attack guard who rebounds like a wing, bothers ball-handlers, and lives for the grimy possessions. In his first Phoenix stint during 2023–24, he averaged 5.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 14.0 minutes. In a larger role later that season with Memphis, he put up 10.0, 8.0, and 4.5 in 29.2 minutes.
He only played in 40 games with Phoenix before being traded to the Brooklyn Nets in the Royce O’Neale deal and was waived by Brooklyn the next day. Goodwin later signed with Memphis, where he finished out that 23-24 season.
2024-25 Recap
Last season with the Lakers, he produced across the margins again. In 29 games, he averaged 5.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.0 steals in 18.7 minutes, while knocking down nearly one three per game. That is a compact, useful second-unit line that fits what Phoenix needs from him right away.
Pitbull, he is. The Lakers may regret letting go of Goodwin, especially since his fit next to Luka (and LeBron) was pretty seamless.
Contract Details
In 2025-26, Goodwin will earn a base salary of $2,349,578, while carrying a cap hit of $2,349,578 and a dead cap value of $25,006.
(courtesy of Spotrac)
Strengths & Weaknesses
Phoenix wants more two-way competence around Devin Booker and Jalen Green. But if we have to settle for one of the ways, it’s defense that’s key alongside those two.
Goodwin’s strengths map directly to that request on one side of the ball. He tracks the ball off the glass, creates extra possessions, and defends without needing touches to stay engaged. His best NBA stretches have come when a coach gave him a defined job instead of freelance creation, and this roster has enough scorers that he can live in that lane.
Think of Goodwin as the tempo guard who toggles between guarding ones and twos (maybe the occasional three), pushes in transition when the ball finds him, and resets the offense without forcing action. On a roster that added Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks and brought in more youth, there is a clean lane for a defensive guard who keeps lineups organized and applies pressure at the point of attack. His pathway is not complicated. It is about reliability and fit more than flair.
Goodwin’s ability to play well next to lead guards offensively makes him an ideal fit in lineups with Jalen Green, Devin Booker, or Collin Gillespie in the second unit. The low-maintenance versatility he brings is a bonus from the guard position.
The progress we need to see includes improved shooting, specifically on catch-and-shoots, strong finishing numbers around the rim when he slashes, and taking on more playmaking duties for a team that needs facilitators desperately.
Offense will cap his minutes if the decision-making slips. During his 2023–24 cameo in Phoenix, his efficiency lagged from deep. When he was thrust into heavier usage in Memphis, the volume rose, but the shooting remained choppy.
If the jumper is inconsistent, spacing gets tight for second-unit lineups already learning one another. That is the trade-off with defensive guards who are not natural table-setters. You live with the occasional empty trip because of what you get on the other end, but the leash shortens if the shot is not there.
Ultimately, his role is easy to envision, but there is a reason he was on waivers. He will have to dispel those deficiencies to become a reliable rotation piece.
One Key Factor
The offensive production will be something to monitor. Is he capable of knocking down open shots and not being a complete offensive liability? If so, his defense could have him on the court for pivotal moments.
Is there a chance his playmaking could improve with a bit more freedom at times? There has to be a bit more juice offensively from him to step into a larger role. But even if he comes in and is exactly who he always has been, he’ll have a role.
Prediction Time
Goodwin comes in and is exactly what you expect him to be. A hard-nosed guard that provides gritty play and hustles every second he’s on the court.
Stat Prediction: 65 games played, 6.1 PPG, 1.9 APG, 4.1 RPG, 0.9 SPG on 42/33/78 shooting splits.
Final Thoughts
If Goodwin brings his trademark edge and trims the offensive issues even slightly, he fits. The rebounding for his position is real. The defensive activity is real. Phoenix does not need him to reinvent anything. They need him to be the same relentless guard he was the last time he wore purple and orange, just a little more selective with the ball. Do that, and he will stick.
The waiver claim was quiet. The impact does not have to be.
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 4: Jordan Goodwin #0 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during the game against the Washington Wizards on February 4, 2024 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 4: Jordan Goodwin #0 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during the game against the Washington Wizards on February 4, 2024 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images)
NBAE via Getty Images
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