The Los Angeles Lakers made a lot of noise this weekend when they signed Marcus Smart, bringing one of the best defensive guards in the league to the team.
Adding Smart brought a lot of help to the team, but it cost them.
According to ESPN, via Legion Hoops, the Lakers released both Jordan Goodwin and Shake Milton in order to complete the Smart signing.
Neither Goodwin nor Milton played much for the Lakers, but fans were hoping for great things from them in the future.
The Lakers released Jordan Goodwin and Shake Milton in order to complete the Marcus Smart signing*, per ESPN pic.twitter.com/aObe3xFa75
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) July 21, 2025
Goodwin averaged 5.6 points and 3.9 rebounds during his 29 games with the Lakers, while Milton put up 3.9 points and 1.8 rebounds during his 30 appearances with Los Angeles.
Milton came to the Lakers midseason as part of a Brooklyn Nets trade, and Goodwin was called up from the G League around the same time.
Although they weren’t starters, both had their moments of glory, and fans thought they could be important parts of the second unit.
Unfortunately for them, the Lakers simply didn’t have the ability to keep them after signing Smart.
These are the sort of tough decisions that teams are faced with when they are attempting to bolster their rosters.
They see so much upside with adding Smart that they are okay parting ways with Goodwin and Milton.
Will this eventually end up biting them?
Fans hope not, because the worst thing the Lakers could do is deplete their lineup in hopes of getting better.
They did that a few years ago with their ill-advised Russell Westbrook signing, and Lakers followers are always nervous of something like that happening again.
Goodwin and Milton showed promise in LA, but now they will have to make their homes elsewhere in the league.
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