Archie Goodwin’s 10-Day Opportunity With The Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets have given Kentucky product and former first-round pick Archie Goodwin a 10-day contract. Can the 23 year-old athletic guard make a good impression with the Nets coaching staff?

Per The Vertical’s Shams Charania, the Brooklyn Nets have signed guard Archie Goodwin to a 10-day contract.

This comes immediately following the Nets 122-104 loss on Tuesday night to the Oklahoma City Thunder, where guard Sean Kilpatrick exited the game with a sore left hamstring.

Goodwin, the 23-year-old product out of the University of Kentucky, last played with the NBA’s D-League Greensboro Swarm, an affiliate of the Charlotte Hornets.

During his 34-game stint with the Greensboro, Goodwin averaged 17.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists in just under 33 minutes per game. He played three games early this season with the New Orleans Pelicans, as well, signing with them on Nov. 7 before being waived Nov. 20.

The 6′ 5″ guard has been solid for the Swarm, showing his coast-to-coast quickness and ability to finish in traffic. But, the former first-round pick saw little playing time during his two-season stint with the Phoenix Suns once their backcourt got healthier.

However, he’s proven to be a spark-plug in the Swarm’s offense as a combo-guard with a nice 26 point outing against the Reno Bighorns on Feb. 11.

Goodwin’s best game in the NBA came back on Jan. 23 of last year, when he poured in 24 points and hit the game-winning three pointer against the Atlanta Hawks.

Goodwin proves to have a high motor, not being afraid to take it to the basket and use his athleticism to rise up against defenders.

He’s always quick to receive an outlet pass and push the ball up the floor, something Brooklyn Nets fans know is important to Kenny Atkinson‘s free-flowing, fast-pace motion offense.

When looking to analyze Goodwin’s game and what might be for the Brooklyn Nets, I turned to fellow HoopsHabit writer and Phoenix Suns beat-writer Gerald Bourguet. Here’s what he had to say in his assessment of Goodwin.

"Goodwin is a raw but athletic guard who can get to the rim well, draw fouls and always seemed to have a knack for making big shots (when he was actually playing late in close games, that is). Unfortunately, he’s not the greatest finisher unless his path is clear enough to elevate for a monster dunk, he’s a lackluster defender and his biggest shortcoming — the complete lack of a perimeter shot — may continue to hold his NBA career back"

Even in looking at highlight packages for Goodwin, the majority them come from some type of drive to the basket, not necessarily someone who can create his own shot out on the perimeter.

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During his 2015-16 campaign with the Suns, 65.5 percent of Goodwin’s field goals came within 10 feet of the basket, showing he’s mainly a drive and finish / drive and kick player.

He shot 23.5 percent from three during his 57-game stint with the Suns that season, accounting for 23.3 percent of his overall field goals.

However, general manager Sean Marks and Atkinson are willing to give the still 23-year-old product a chance. Per Bourguet, he’s still raw and athletic and could use some work on his shot.

While the Nets may have their work cut out for them, Marks cannot leave a stone unturned, as the lack of assets for the squad going forward means taking some shots at D-League products and putting them through Atkinson’s development system.

Next: 30 Greatest Draft Steals of the Lottery Era

Maybe one could click for the team, as they look to re-tool heading into the summer.