Lakers Waive Jordan Goodwin to Clear Cap for Marcus Smart
The Lakers have waived Jordan Goodwin to create the remaining cap space to bring in Marcus Smart. Smart agreed to a two-year $11 million deal with the Lakers after agreeing to a buyout with the Washington Wizards.
BREAKING: The Lakers have waived Jordan Goodwin, per @ShamsCharania.
This was to make room for the Marcus Smart signing. pic.twitter.com/8GsgoFW6W0
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) July 21, 2025
To create the room to sign Smart, LA needed to clear $4.2 million in cap space. They did so by waiving Shake Milton and now Goodwin.
While the Lakers can now sign Smart, they don’t have the cap room to sign a 15th player to the roster. They will have to make a trade or waive and stretch a player to create space for a 15th player. The Lakers could also wait until later in the season and sign someone as their current contracts prorate.
Goodwin appeared in 29 regular season games and four playoff games for the Lakers in the 2024-25 season, becoming a rotational piece for JJ Redick. In the regular season, the 26-year-old averaged 5.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and a steal per game. He shot 43.8% from the field and 38.2% from three.
Jordan Goodwin was a solid role player on a cheap contract, but is now on the way out of LA. Rob Pelinka and the front office have more work to do to create cap space for a 15th player.
