The important change that the Lakers have made to their roster ahead of the NBA playoffs

Los Angeles Lakers have promoted shooting guard Jordan Goodwin to a guaranteed contract, as announced on Thursday by ESPN's Shams Charania. In order to accommodate the 26-year-old player on the 15-man roster, the team waived small forward Cam Reddish. According to Chris Haynes, the player's contract includes a team option for a second year.

Goodwin joined LA in January after being waived from the training camp roster. He has already made an impact in his first months as a Laker. In 19 games and 20.5 minutes per game, he has averaged 6.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.2 steals with shooting percentages of 47% from the field, 41.3% from three-point range, and 81.8% from the free-throw line.

The former Saint Louis University shooting guard has become a key piece in JJ Redick's rotation, primarily due to his effort, but also out of necessity. Injuries have plagued the team since the All-Star break, making Goodwin's presence crucial in various situations. The fourth-year combo guard has started in five games with the purple and gold, averaging 8.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists during that stretch. While he will continue to be productive coming off the bench, Lakers fans will be relieved to know they have a "plug-and-play" option if any starter misses time in the future.

The Importance of Jordan Goodwin for the Lakers

Goodwin's defense, in particular, will be crucial for a Lakers team that has recently struggled to stop the ball. He has showcased his value as a defender on the perimeter, fitting in seamlessly alongside veteran Gabe Vincent. Redick recently acknowledged how Goodwin set the tone for LA in their March 16 victory over the Phoenix Suns.

His improvement in shooting is also noteworthy, as his career-high 32% three-point shooting percentage is establishing new efficiency and volume highs. Goodwin has already had five games with two or more three-pointers, including a 5/6 long-range shooting performance - scoring 17 points, his season-best - on March 10 against Brooklyn. The young shooting guard has provided a spark on both ends of the floor, and his ability to get the team out of a shooting slump will be key going forward.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El importante cambio que han hecho los Lakers en su plantilla de cara a los playoffs NBA