Phoenix Suns general manager Brian Gregory is in an unenviable position.
Yes, the Suns are playing well and defying preseason expectations this year, but the team’s cap table heading toward the 2026 offseason presents some clear challenges.
Both starting center Mark Williams and breakout guard Collin Gillespie will be free agents at season’s end. And now, yet another Phoenix player in a contract year is showing his value.
Jordan Goodwin has been getting his opportunities for the Suns this season in large part due to injuries to other guards Jalen Green (hamstring) and Grayson Allen (quad, knee). He’s now carving out a niche as one of the best rebounding guards in basketball — especially relative to his size at just 6-foot-3.
Goodwin grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds in the Suns’ Dec. 31 loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers to close the book on 2025. In addition to being a career best, that rebounding total was also a franchise record for a Suns guard off the bench.
Eight of those boards were snatched on the offensive end, tying a franchise record for a guard and giving Phoenix added opportunities to score. That follows a seven-rebound performance Dec. 29 against Washington (four offensive boards) and nine rebounds the game prior against New Orleans (five of those on the offensive glass).
As the league continues to evolve with an emphasis on shooting more 3-pointers, a more recent trend has been the emphasis on offensive rebounding. The game is all about possessions. Get more possessions — and thus more shots — against your opponents, and there’s a good chance you’re going to come away with a win.
Goodwin’s skillset in that regard is standing out, and as yet another soon-to-be Suns free agent, that presents a quandary for Gregory and the front office.
The Suns are already above the luxury tax threshold and likely looking to shed salary they can then use to re-sign Williams and/or Gillespie next summer.
Goodwin, meanwhile, seems unlikely to figure into the team’s long-term plans.
Could the Phoenix Suns look to trade Jordan Goodwin?
Gregory must decide whether trading Goodwin, an impending free agent, for something in return is the best course of action given the existing offseason question marks.
Gillespie and Williams should no doubt be the priorities for Phoenix moving forward, which leaves Goodwin in limbo.
Given his grit, hustle and propensity to crash the offensive glass, contending teams around the NBA looking for guard depth may look to take Goodwin off the Suns’ hands.
Obviously that all depends on fit and what opposing teams may offer for his services, but fans shouldn’t be surprised if Goodwin finds his way to the trade block given what he can provide other teams.
Goodwin’s minutes will be harder to come by when Green eventually makes his return to the court from a hamstring injury that’s kept him sidelined for all but two games this season.
Due to that, Goodwin’s recent performances may serve as a tryout for teams looking to add before February’s NBA trade deadline.