JJ Redick will enter his first season as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers facing the unenviable task of fixing the team's defense. Building around five-time All-Defense honoree Anthony Davis certainly simplifies the process, but the Lakers' primary area of weakness has endured.
The Lakers have thus far failed to add new personnel to provide immediate value in that regard, but a training camp addition may have revealed Redick's priorities.
Los Angeles finished the 2023-24 season in the bottom half of the NBA in defensive rating. One of the primary reasons for the team's inconsistency was the porous perimeter defense that became the source of insurmountable deficits and squandered leads.
According to Senior NBA Insider Chris Haynes, the Lakers have added guard Jordan Goodwin to the training camp roster in a move that could speak to a sincere attempt to improve on defense.
Sources: Free agent guard Jordan Goodwin has agree to a camp deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. pic.twitter.com/MWyWPrCVO0
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) September 3, 2024
It's unclear if Goodwin is going to be considered for a larger role come the 2024-25 season, but his addition to training camp is a positive sign for what Redick is prioritizing.
Lakers add Jordan Goodwin to training camp roster
Goodwin, 25, is a 6'3" and 200-pound guard with a massive 6'10" wingspan. That enabled him to earn the reputation of a top-tier defender during his collegiate career, earning All-Atlantic 10 First Team and Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team honors in 2019-20 and 2020-21.
Goodwin went undrafted in 2021, but he's bounced around NBA rosters over the past three seasons due in no small part to his defensive capabilities.
This past season, Goodwin played 40 games with the Phoenix Suns and 17 with the Memphis Grizzlies. During his brief tenure in Memphis, he averaged 10.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.8 offensive boards, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 steals in 29.2 minutes per game.
Goodwin shot poorly, posting a slash line of .349/.311/.633 with the Grizzlies, but his defensive prowess, rebounding, and playmaking ability were undeniably intriguing.
Through three NBA seasons, Goodwin's averages translate to 12.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.8 steals per 36 minutes on .405/.308/.758 shooting. As such, it seems as though his production with the Grizzlies was less of an outlier than it may seem.
Goodwin will need to refine his jump shot and produce more efficiently, but the Lakers could utilize a player like Goodwin in a backcourt that's thin on defensive specialists.
Gabe Vincent projects to be the top backcourt defender in 2024-25, but concerns understandably exist about his availability after he missed 71 games in 2023-24. Bronny James was drafted to play a defensive-minded role, but his inexperience could result in the 19-year-old spending most of his rookie season with the South Bay Lakers in the G League.
That creates an opportunity for Goodwin to make a name for himself in training camp and potentially secure NBA playing time. If not, then his addition at least acts as proof that Los Angeles is aware of its flaws.