No matter what else the skeptics have to say about Rob Pelinka, there's no denying that he's made a habit out of unearthing diamonds in the rough. Throughout his tenure in the front office, the Los Angeles Lakers have managed to find high-quality players in unlikely places.
The latest in the long line of unsung heroes is Jordan Goodwin—a player with whom Pelinka and the Lakers can't afford to repeat the mistake they made with Scotty Pippen Jr.
Los Angeles has done a phenomenal job of utilizing its scouting department to its advantage. It struck gold with undrafted players such as Alex Caruso, Pippen, and Austin Reaves, as well as former starting shooting guard and second-round selection Max Christie.
Goodwin already has NBA experience under his belt, but he appears to be the latest name to be added to the list of Los Angeles' unlikely impact players.
Goodwin made in his NBA debut in 2021-22 and has since gone on to play 129 games with four franchises. That includes the eight games that he's played for the Lakers in 2024-25, during which he's looked the part of a perfect fit.
If the Lakers are going to make the most of what's become an injury-plagued season, they must learn from losing Pippen and sign Goodwin to a standard NBA contract.
Lakers must sign Jordan Goodwin before history repeats itself
For those unfamiliar, Pippen played for the South Bay Lakers, showing clear signs of promise on both ends of the floor. Unfortunately, Los Angeles failed to sign him to its NBA roster and thus allowed the Memphis Grizzlies to steal a high-level up-and-coming talent.
Pippen has emerged as a key contributor in Memphis' deep rotation, averaging 8.9 points, 4.2 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 0.9 three-point field goals made in just 19.9 minutes per game.
That well-rounded production could've proven essential to what the Lakers are attempting to build in 2024-25. Instead, Los Angeles has been searching for ideal options at the backup guard spots to balance quality defense with consistent offensive production.
Goodwin, who's still just 26 years of age, represents a rare second chance to learn from past mistakes.
Through eight appearances, Goodwin is averaging 6.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 1.3 steals, and 0.6 three-point field goals made in 16.9 minutes per game. Those numbers translate to 12.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.4 steals, and 1.2 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes.
Beyond the numbers, Goodwin has been an infectious source of energy on the defensive end of the floor and a rare source of offense off the bench.
Perhaps Goodwin isn't posting star-caliber numbers, but he's come in to play a role and he's thus far thrived within it. Los Angeles is outscoring opponents by 4.5 points per 100 possessions when he's on the court, allowing just 106.4.
Thankfully, Lakers head coach JJ Redick has revealed that Goodwin will be a member of the rotation moving forward. It's up to Pelinka to ensure a long-term future.
