The Phoenix Suns have claimed guard Jordan Goodwin off waivers, bringing the 25-year-old back for a second stint with the franchise.

Goodwin, who most recently suited up for the Los Angeles Lakers, became available after the team waived him alongside Shake Milton. The move came as part of a roster reshuffle that allowed the Lakers to officially sign veteran guard Marcus Smart following his buyout from the Washington Wizards. According to reports, Smart’s recruitment was driven in part by Luka Doncic, who personally reached out to help bring the former Defensive Player of the Year to L.A.

Despite showing promise during his short time in Los Angeles, Goodwin was one of the casualties of the numbers game. The Lakers, unable to move higher-salaried players like Gabe Vincent or Maxi Kleber, opted to release him instead of risking other rotation pieces. Dalton Knecht also drew interest but wasn’t dealt, leaving Goodwin as the odd man out.

However, Goodwin didn’t stay on the waiver wire for long. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Suns quickly acted within the 48-hour window to claim the guard, valuing his affordable \$2.3 million salary and defensive potential.

During the 2023–24 season, Goodwin appeared in 29 games for the Lakers, with average of 5.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game. which is known primarily for his defence, the former Saint Louis standout showed improvement from beyond the arc, with the hit of 38.2% of his three-point attempts — a career-best mark that may boost his chances of cracking Phoenix’s backcourt rotation.

This marks Goodwin’s second stint with the Suns. He initially joined the team in the 2023 offseason as part of the blockbuster Bradley Beal trade from Washington. That stay was short-lived, as he was later sent to the Brooklyn Nets in a deal involving Royce O’Neale. After being waived by the Nets, Goodwin found a temporary home with the Memphis Grizzlies before ultimately landing with the Lakers.

Originally signed to a two-way deal in February, Goodwin was promoted to a standard contract by the Lakers in March — a testament to his effort and development late in the season. Now, he’ll look to build on that momentum in Phoenix as the Suns continue reshaping their bench ahead of the new campaign.