The Los Angeles Lakers needed to make room for Marcus Smart this summer. Instead of clearing up space via trade, they chose the path that offered a simpler and easier solution by waiving Jordan Goodwin. That decision was a disappointing one then, and it continues to be one now.
The [non-guaranteed salary](https://lakeshowlife.com/lakers-feel-good-story-becomes-necessary-casualty-of-marcus-smart-upgrade) of Goodwin made him a prime candidate to be outright cut when Smart had inked a new contract that required the financial books to be cleared up following a buyout from the Washington Wizards. Despite the former Lakers guard quickly [earning a spot](https://lakeshowlife.com/player-who-quickly-gained-lakers-trust-is-currently-ineligible-for-the-playoffs) in the rotation while still on a two-way contract, Los Angeles chose to discard their own hidden gem.
Monday night gave the Lakers an up close and personal look at the player they gave up. Goodwin played the part of someone who possessed what the team was missing right now in the Suns' comfortable 125-108 win over the Lakers.
The Suns guard scored 13 points off the bench, shooting 5-of-10 from the field and 3-of-7 from beyond the arc, to go with five assists, and three steals. Goodwin flashed strong 3-and-D upside when still donning purple and gold. There should be no doubt he could have provided that for the Lakers at present.
Letting Jordan Goodwin slip will continue to haunt the Lakers
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"We had Marcus Smart at home."
That's what the Lakers should have been telling themselves, to some capacity, when it comes to Goodwin. Now, that is not an exact one-to-one. That is also not suggesting that Smart shouldn't have been signed.
The main takeaway here is that Rob Pelinka and company may have wanted to exhaust the extra options and effort to keep Goodwin around, even with the addition of Smart inbound. Instead, they let their own great discovery willingly walk out the door.
In 2025-26, Goodwin is averaging 8.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.5 steals in 20.2 minutes per game, primarily operating off the Suns bench. The 27-year-old is shooting 44.1 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from 3-point land.
Goodwin has been a big part of the Suns exceeding expectations this season. His skill set has fit exactly the type of style that new head coach Jordan Ott has gotten his team to play since taking over.
Instead of being a basement dweller, the Suns are firmly competing for a postseason spot. That is a massive improvement from the dreadful season they had in 2024-25 with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal as the three-headed snake at the forefront of their team.
Goodwin is playing his role in that resurgence perfectly. It is one that would have been just as desirable to see in Los Angeles.