Lakers sign Jordan Goodwin to two-way contract to strengthen backcourt depth

On February 8 , the Los Angeles Lakers have officially signed a two-way contract with guard Jordan Goodwin . The 1.91-meter-tall guard averaged 6.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game in his NBA career , and the Lakers hope he can enhance the team's backcourt depth .

Before the start of the 2024-25 season , Goodwin played for the Lakers in the Development League ( G League) as a training camp contract , playing for the Lakers' affiliate team South Bay Lakers . In the 14 games of the South Bay Lakers, he averaged 14.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game, showing excellent comprehensiveness. It was this performance that made the Lakers decide to offer him a two-way contract, giving him the opportunity to contribute to the Lakers' first-line lineup.

At present, the Lakers still lack sufficient depth in the backup guard position, which is one of the main reasons why the team decided to introduce Goodwin. Although his NBA career data of 6.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists are not particularly impressive, he is a player with good defensive ability and can contribute in multiple positions, which is exactly the type of role player the Lakers need at present.

Goodwin has played 121 games in the NBA and has played for the Washington Wizards and Phoenix Suns. In the 2022-23 season, he averaged 6.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists for the Wizards, showing a certain combat effectiveness. His characteristics are tough defense, active rebounding, and the ability to take on certain organizational tasks in the backcourt . These abilities will help the Lakers improve the depth of the lineup.

The Lakers made frequent moves on the trade deadline, and the team management hopes to build a championship-contending lineup around LeBron James and Luka Doncic . According to previous reports, the Lakers traded Anthony Davis for Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks and got Mark Williams and other players from the Hornets. In addition, the Lakers are actively seeking reinforcements in the free market to ensure sufficient competitiveness in the playoffs.

With the addition of Goodwin, the Lakers' backcourt rotation has been further strengthened. Whether he can get stable playing time in this season's games depends on whether he can prove himself in limited opportunities. However, from the current situation, the Lakers are still making final preparations for the championship in the 2024-25 season, and the team's final lineup may still undergo further adjustments.

For the Lakers, although Goodwin's joining is not a big-money signing, in the second half of the season, any player who can provide stable contributions may become an important piece of the team's championship puzzle.