Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers - Lakers Convert Jordan Goodwin's Two-Way Contract, Waive Cam Reddish

Starting point is 00:00:00 The Lakers have made a roster move converting Jordan Goodwin's two-way contract to a real NBA contract, a move that is not terribly surprising, but still very important. Explain why on Locked-on Lakers coming up next. You are Locked-on Lakers. Your daily Los Angeles Lakers podcast, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. And thanks for making Locked on Lakers your first listen every day, Monday through Friday, sometimes on weekends, free, never behind a paywall. And for the sickos who like to watch,

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Starting point is 00:01:01 make sure you are subscribing so you never miss a show from us. Andy Kamenanski, my brother, Brian. Not here, he will be there for our postgame coverage of tonight versus the Bulls in Chicago, but just wanted to give a little bit of quick commentary about the announcement that, per sham Sharania, I'm sure it'll be official from the Lakers soon, that the Lakers are going to be converting Jordan Goodwin's two-way contract to a standard contract, which makes him playoff eligible, and they will be waving Cam Reddish in order to, make that roster spot available. We've talked about this a lot heading up to a moment that

Starting point is 00:01:41 frankly was inevitable. It would have been absolutely bizarre if the Lakers have not done this. I mean, forget the idea that Jordan Goodwin has been in the rotation, basically ever since the Lakers signed him to a two-way deal, meaning you clearly want him to be a part of this team moving forward this season. And if you weren't going to convert his contract, then frankly, it makes playing him at all a really strange decision because all you're doing is setting up your team to perform one way, to have a rotation one way. And then you're just yanking out the rug from everybody. Again, it would make absolutely no sense. And it's really great that they have Jordan Goodwin for the rest of the season in the playoffs because he's become a really important member of this rotation.

Starting point is 00:02:32 He's averaging about 20-ish minutes per game. And beyond the defense that he's been, it's really been his calling card, just the activity and the energy and the disruptiveness and his ability to check guys at the point of attack, a skill set that frankly, this team does not have a lot of across the roster. I think his rebounding has become essential for the Lakers. He's averaging nearly four rebounds a game as a guard and one and a half rebounds on the offensive glass. And this has become a critical part of Goodwin's game. Per 36 minutes, he averages 2.7 offensive rebounds a game.

Starting point is 00:03:17 And for guys in the rotation, other than Jared Vanderbilt, that is best on the team per 36. He also is the best rebounding guard on this team, period, per 36 minutes. unless you count Luca, who is designated at times as a guard, also designated as a forward, and he's definitely got forward size. Either way, though, anybody that is unquestionably no ambiguity about it, a guard, Jordan Goodwin is the best rebounding guard on this team. And those rebounds, whether offensive, defensive, they are really important for this team. And, you know, the last few games, Jordan hasn't played quite as much as earlier in his time with the Lakers.

Starting point is 00:04:04 He had just seven minutes against Indiana, about 13 to 15 in the previous two games. But I think that's more of a byproduct of LeBron and Rui being back, a guy like Dorian Finney Smith, no longer being on a minute's restriction, hopefully. So his time on the court's going to increase. Jordan Goodwin is the eighth or ninth man in this rotation. but he's an important guy and somebody that offers very specific skills that this Laker roster does not have a lot of. So again, not surprised at all that the Lakers did this, but happy to see it done the minute it was possible Jordan Goodwin had just in Indiana played his last game possible on a two-way deal.

Starting point is 00:04:50 It's also just an awesome story. I mean, Jordan Goodwin is somebody that's bounced around the league a bit, has had a difficulty finding a home. We don't know yet the terms of his deal, but I'm guessing it's some type of veterans minimum multi-year deal with some flexibility for the Lakers, maybe even some flexibility for Jordan Goodwin. So he can get out of it early enough to cash in if not next, if not this off season, certainly next season and beyond. either way, it's awesome for Jordan Goodwin, who is clearly a guy that busts his ass when he's on the court plays exceptionally hard. He is clearly well liked by his teammates. He is really, really well liked by JJ Redick, who discovered an immediate trust in Goodwin. So I love when stuff like this happens for players who just find their opportunity through really just working hard. So

Starting point is 00:05:49 it's a great story. Also, he is a, he is a, he is. a product of St. Louis University. I grew up in St. Louis. He set the all-time steals record at Slu. So kind of cool, just that connection. As I mentioned before, Cam Reddish getting waived to open up that roster spot, which is not surprising at all. I know there will be some fans who would have preferred Alex Lenn get waived instead of Reddish, and I get it. But the reality is, Len does not play often. and he still could end up getting waived to either convert Christian Coloco or Trey Jemison. But Len every now and then plays, as opposed to Cam Reddish, who I talked about on a recent show, never plays. It was actually striking to me how little he played.

Starting point is 00:06:36 I'd actually inquired around a little bit trying to see if this was something that maybe he and JJ Reddick worked out because sometimes veterans don't want to play garbage time. and it'll be something that a coach will abide out of respect for a guy who's been in the league for a while. But even in garbage time, Reddish was never playing unless it was one of those games where the Lakers were missing five or six guys and you simply have to put players out there. Cam's minutes had just become non-existent. I think he had not been active the last couple games. So it's not surprising in any way. I hope he can find another opportunity. I mean, this is now his sixth season.

Starting point is 00:07:19 He's really bounced around a lot. He's had difficulty finding his footing, and that sucks. Seems like a good enough guy. And there's definitely something there that I can see what coaches or teams find interesting. But the reality is, he got opportunities from both Darvindham and JJ Redick. Both of them made him a starter at one point. has not stuck for Cam. So again, best of luck to him.

Starting point is 00:07:48 It'll be interesting to see what happens moving forward. But for anybody concerned that the Lakers would somehow not do the obvious and convert Jordan Goodwin, fear no more because he is on the roster moving forward. He is playoff eligible. And that obviously matters a lot for more Lakers coverage, including tonight after the game in Chicago against the Bulls, make sure that you are subscribing to Locked on Lakers on. YouTube or through audio. Appreciate everybody being here and we will see you after the game.

Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers - Lakers Convert Jordan Goodwin's Two-Way Contract, Waive Cam Reddish

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