Lakers Waive Jordan Goodwin, Clear Salary Cap Space for Marcus Smart Contract

The Los Angeles Lakers waived guard Jordan Goodwin shortly after releasing Shake Milton to clear space for the arrival of Marcus Smart.

ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported the news.

The team needed to get below the first apron financially to complete Smart’s signing. Per ESPN's Bobby Marks, Goodwin had $25,000 in guaranteed salary, and the Lakers are now $1 million under the first apron following the move.

Los Angeles also waived Shake Milton on Sunday.

Smart is expected to sign a two-year, $11 million deal with the Lakers, prompting the team to waive two players to clear cap space for the former Defensive Player of the Year.

“Essentially, Smart will replace Jordan Goodwin and Shake Milton, two Lakers guards on non-guaranteed contracts who they will have to waive to make room for Smart under a hard cap at the lower luxury tax apron,” ESPN’s Kevin Pelton reported. “Milton’s $3 million salary was set to guarantee Sunday, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks.”

Both players came off the bench last season but proved dependable when called upon.

Goodwin averaged 5.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 43.8 percent from the field in 18.7 minutes per game over 29 appearances, after head coach JJ Redick leaned on the four-year veteran late in the season.

Pelton emphasized the trade-off of two players for one, noting that Smart’s playoff experience provides enough value to make the two bench players expendable.

“Although Goodwin and Milton played rotation roles at times in the second half of last season, neither could stay on the court as JJ Redick relied more heavily on his starters in the opening round of the playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves,” Pelton wrote. “Goodwin played 31 minutes in the series and Milton just four. Given Smart’s history, including 108 career playoff games with the Boston Celtics ...he has a better chance of earning Redick’s trust and improving the team’s shaky perimeter depth.”