Although he has always been a tenacious defender and rebounder for a guard, Jordan Goodwin struggled offensively for most of his first three NBA seasons, connecting on just 45.8% of his two-point attempts and 30.2% of his three-pointers over that span.
However, as Gerald Bourguet details for Sports360AZ.com, Goodwin flashed improvement with his outside shot as a Laker last season and then had a career year with the Suns in 2025/26 ahead of unrestricted free agency. The 27-year-old combo guard knocked down 37.1% of his 4.3 three-point tries this season en route to averaging 8.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.5 steals in 22.5 minutes per game across 70 appearances.
Goodwin, who embodies Phoenix’s new hustle-and-defense ethos, still struggles to convert non-threes, Bourguet writes, but the fact that he was able to be a threat from long distance is the main reason he should be in line for a raise this summer. The question is, how much of a pay increase will Goodwin command?
Bourguet considers that question, noting that Goodwin was an integral part of the Suns’ identity and they want to retain him, but he may be a secondary priority behind Collin Gillespie. Bourguets projects a floor for Goodwin starting at the bi-annual exception ($11.23MM over two years) and a ceiling in the range of $7-9MM over three or four years.
Here’s more on the Suns:
There have been rumblings that starting center Mark Williams, who will be a restricted free agent if he’s given a qualifying offer, may not be a lock to return in 2026/27. The former first-round pick had an uneven first season with the Suns after they traded for him last June, and they’re going to be over the luxury tax line if they re-sign Gillespie and Goodwin to market-value deals. According to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 (Twitter link), Phoenix is considering three options with Williams: Re-signing him if it’s a team-friendly deal; pursuing a sign-and-trade if he wants too much money; or letting him walk in free agency.
Gambadoro previously reported that Phoenix isn’t interested in trying to pursue a trade for Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon. Appearing on Bourguet’s Suns After Dark, podcast Yossi Gozlan of Third Apron says he likes the idea of Gordon’s fit with the Suns, but says a deal would likely be too costly for them given what it might take to acquire him.
Bourguet shot down any suggestion that the Suns might be involved in trade talks for Giannis Antetokounmpo or Ja Morant, writing that a source called any speculation on that front “complete nonsense” (Twitter link).
