Jordan Goodwin became an unfortunate casualty of the Los Angeles Lakers acquiring Marcus Smart after his buyout from the Washington Wizards. In doing so, Rob Pelinka and the front office may have discarded a hidden gem who fit their team perfectly.
Goodwin was a feel-good story for the Lakers in 2024-25. The 26-year-old arrived in Los Angeles with a two-way contract and immediately made an impact, fighting his way into JJ Redick's rotation. By the end of the regular season, the Lakers guard was upgraded to a standard NBA deal.
Goodwin averaged 5.