The Lakers have waived Jordan Goodwin, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania (via Twitter). The move was necessary to create room below the first tax apron to sign Marcus Smart following his buyout from the Wizards.
The Lakers had recently picked up the $2.3MM team option on Goodwin’s contract, but only $25K of the deal was guaranteed.
As the only remaining Laker with a non-guaranteed contract following the team’s decision to waive Shake Milton earlier today, Goodwin’s place on the roster became tenuous once it was clear the Lakers were bringing in Smart on a two-year, $11MM deal that necessitated multiple cost-cutting moves. Smart’s salary for next season is expected to be worth the full bi-annual exception of $5.1MM.
As Bobby Marks of ESPN tweets, once Smart signs, the Lakers will be operating about $1MM below the first apron, so they won’t have enough breathing room to sign a 15th man before the season begins without further cost-cutting moves.
Marks adds (via Twitter) that because Goodwin has played in the league for four seasons, he’s ineligible for a two-way deal. The 26-year-old defensive-minded guard played 29 games for the Lakers this season, averaging 5.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 18.7 minutes per night. He shot 38.2% from three and appeared in four of the five Lakers’ playoff games against the Timberwolves, averaging 7.8 minutes per game in the postseason.
Goodwin will now hit waivers and then become an unrestricted free agent if no one claims him (the priority order is determined by the reverse order of last season’s standings). The Athletic’s Tony Jones speculates (via Twitter) that Goodwin is likely to have a number of suitors on the open market.
Solid player , hope he finds a home
Yeah surprised that he hasn’t stuck with anyone yet.
Hoping he lands on the warriors. Going to need some guard defense.
He was a casualty of LaBums greed.
You’re a casualty of yourself.
Had LeBron accepted a couple million less, Goodwin could have stuck on the roster. He showed last season he’s a quality bench player in that system. LeBron makes money hand over fist via private ventures and endorsements. So, yes, his own greed caused this move to happen.
I sometimes wonder if people who hate this much have high blood pressure
I wonder why you jump on somebody else’s idea that LeBron could taken him a couple million less, but you have to go to insult. It’s not becoming of you at all and sometimes karma comes back.
White Mamba himself heard Luka was the one that called Smart. Then of course Isola said “Lakers are taking orders from Luka now and not LeBron”
Shouldn’t have a problem getting a gig. Defensive minded who can shoot it. I know just the place.
So Smart costs them Goodwin and Milton, both of whom are younger and shoot the three better, and play almost as solid D as Smart at his age. I … don’t think they’re getting better. Reeks of “get my buddy who was good some years ago on the roster or I’ll cause trouble.”
I understand they get Smart, he is still a good player but worth much less than the contract he was on.
However: if Smart would have accepted 1,3 million less this season, and a related amount on his option year due to maximum increase, they could have kept Goodwin, while now they can only add a 15th player on the buy-out market if they don’t trade a player like Struss or Vanderbilt.
Too bad he wasnt willing to accept that.
Accepting a minimum salary contract would have been even better for the Lakers, but then he had only received 3,63 million. Not that much lower than what he is getting now in his first year, but it is also an honour aspect off course.
And if he got injured, he would have lost more.
So understandable for Smart, but it would have made a big difference to the Lakers.
If only Lebron accepted less…
The Lakers would have a better bench players…
Oh yeah all Smart lols. Milton? OK. When that LBJ contract is done the lakers will improve….just wait and see. Will improve even more if the make a wish kid of his leaves too.
How do they improve? If he left this summer, they wouldn’t have cap space to sign free agents. Next season they will have more space. But they will need to resign Doncic, Rui, Reaves, Ayton. If they want to keep them.
How much influence does Bronny have? Doesn’t play anyway (has a total of 180 mins of NBA basketball), so it’s not like he’s dragging them down. He can be waived next summer just like any other 2nd round pick under that contract.
Who said this summer? Obviously it’s next. And yes the more I think about it this guy isn’t top 10. Yep, I just that.
Well, yeah, there are more than 10 players who are better than LeBron in the league, but it’s not like he’s been a passenger basketball-wise. He’s had a very poor stretch in November-December, but other than that, he’s been a good productive player.
What has dragged them down were some decisions, which are said he lobbied. Like that Westbrook trade which was a complete disaster and hurt them for years.
Goodwin is better than Smart.
I do not like the way Harden plays so much but I am hoping he can have a great post season. I sure hope Paul signs with the Clippers.,
Bucks maybe Celtics
**Technically they’re clearing space under the first apron, not creating any cap room.