Lakers waive veteran guard to get below first apron

The Lakers have waived Jordan Goodwin, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania (via Twitter). This was done as part of a move to clear cap space to sign Marcus Smart following Smart’s buyout from the Wizards.

The Lakers had recently picked up the $2.3M team option on Goodwin’s contract, but only $25K of the deal was guaranteed. As the only non-guaranteed contract on the roster following the team’s decision to waive Shake Milton earlier today, Goodwin’s place on the team had become vulnerable once it was clear the Lakers were bringing in Smart on a two-year, $11M deal that necessitated multiple cost-cutting moves. Smart’s salary for next season is expected to be worth the full bi-annual exception of $5.1M.

Bobby Marks of ESPN tweets that the move was necessary to get the Lakers below the first apron, which allowed them to make the Smart signing. They will now stay $1M below the first apron. He adds (via Twitter) that because Goodwin has played in the league for four seasons, he’s ineligible for a two-way deal.

Goodwin 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.

The 26-year-old defensive-minded guard will now hit waivers and then become an unrestricted free agent if no one claims him off waivers, an order determined in reverse order of the 2024-25 NBA standings. The Athletic’s Tony Jones speculated (via Twitter) that Goodwin is likely to have a number of suitors on the open market.