Suns reserve shooting guard Archie Goodwin is frustrated with his lack of playing time amid Phoenix’s continued addition of guards, as he tells Sean Deveney of The Sporting News. Goodwin cautioned that he understands all the guys ahead of him on the team are talented players and that he wants to maintain a professional attitude. Still, the 20-year-old is putting up a strong performance while on D-League assignment, and he tells Deveney that he won’t tolerate a limited NBA role next season.
“I don’t know what they’re doing,” Goodwin said. “Honestly, I really don’t. I guess they know what they’re doing — I can just play ball and let them make the decisions. I don’t know what the purpose is for it, but there is nothing I can do about it.”
Indeed, there isn’t much recourse for Goodwin, since his rookie scale contract runs through 2016/17, but he’s not the only one dissatisfied in Phoenix, even as the Suns have won 13 out of their last 17. Here’s more from Phoenix and elsewhere in the Pacific Division:
- Gerald Green isn’t pleased with his decreased minutes this season for the Suns, as free agency looms in the summer, but there’s “no way” Phoenix will trade the swingman this year, sources tell Deveney for the same piece.
- J.J. Redick foresees a max contract for Clippers teammate DeAndre Jordan this summer, notes Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times. Jordan is No. 9 in the latest Hoops Rumors Free Agent Power Rankings.
- Shaun Livingston isn’t seeing nearly as much playing time with the Warriors this season as he did with the Nets last year, but the 29-year-old, who signed as a free agent with Golden State this past summer, prefers this year’s situation because it offers a legitimate chance at the title. Carl Steward of The Bay Area News Group has the details.
- Tony Mitchell, whom the Suns released to make room for Brandan Wright, is drawing offers from European teams, reports David Pick of Eurobasket.com (Twitter link). Mitchell’s stay in Phoenix was brief, as he came over in last month’s Anthony Tolliver trade with the Pistons.
Suns should wait until the end of the season and see if they can re-sign Dragic. if they can, they should trade Bledsoe for a quality big man and re-sign Green.