The Phoenix Suns are keeping one of their most versatile role players around for a while. The team announced they’ve re-signed Jordan Goodwin to a three-year deal worth $19 million, with a player option on the third year. Shams Charania of ESPN had the news first.
This wasn’t exactly a shock. Not after the season Goodwin just put together.
When the Lakers waived him, the Suns knew what they were getting. A guy who plays defense like his hair is on fire. A guard who can knock down threes and doesn’t back down from bigger players. He shot 37 percent from deep on 4.3 attempts per game and started ten times. That’s career-best stuff.
Small ball, big impact
Goodwin became a key piece in Phoenix’s small-ball lineups. Sometimes he was at power forward, which sounds absurd for a 6-foot-3 guard. But it worked. His relentless pressure on the ball became part of the team’s identity. He took whatever role was thrown at him and never complained. His teammates noticed.
Even center Oso Ighodaro had to remind people that Goodwin is an NBA player for a reason. Sometimes guys just find their niche. The St. Louis University product has done exactly that.
Midway through last season, Goodwin talked about his mindset and how it all clicked for him in Phoenix. Now he gets to run it back with essentially the same group.
The Suns got him on a reasonable deal too. Three years, $19 million is solid value for a guy who can guard multiple positions, hit catch-and-shoot threes, and never complains about his minutes. Teams always need guys like that. Phoenix kept theirs.
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