'Great roster': New Phoenix Suns players excited about being part of championship contender

Jordan Goodwin took inventory on the roster the Phoenix Suns have put together and came away with a winning conclusion.

“We’ve got our big three (in Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal) and we did a great job of filling in the other positions as well (in free agency),” Goodwin said. “I think we got a great roster one through 15.”

Goodwin is preparing for NBA Summer League in Las Vegas as the Suns are having a mini camp this week at the team’s practice facility.

Phoenix plays its first game Saturday against the Bucks at Cox Pavilion in Vegas. Goodwin is one of the more seasoned players on the summer-league team.

“Just trying to be a leader,” Goodwin said. “Understanding I got more experience than some of these guys coming in. Doing my best to let them know what to expect and just go out there and play freely, play calm and don’t put too much pressure on themselves.”

Once Vegas is over, the Suns will start looking to formulate a team with championship aspirations.

“When everybody gets together, we’ve got to get our chemistry down pat,” Goodwin added.

Isaiah Todd and Goodwin are on the Suns' summer league roster as both came from Washington in the Beal trade. The Suns traded Chris Paul, Landry Shamet, six second-round picks and four first-round pick swaps to the Wizards for Beal, Goodwin and Todd. Paul later was dealt to the Warriors.

“Excited to have Jordan here,” Todd said. “Jordan and I started out (with the Wizards G League team) together. I watched him carve himself out a role. To see him here is amazing and Brad, I almost get emotional just thinking about us winning a championship one day. Everything that he might have gone through behind closed doors and me watching him since I was a kid and wanting him to win a championship as well. It’s just amazing to see.”

Like Goodwin, Todd was also impressed with the new-look Suns roster.

“I see we have a great chance to win a championship,” Todd said. “We’ve got a lot of pieces. It’s going to be interesting to see how we come together.”

The Suns officially announced Tuesday the signing of free agents Keita Bates-Diop, Drew Eubanks, Chimezie Metu and Yuta Watanabe.

“Each of these players possess unique skillsets that complement the rest of our roster and make us a more dynamic team,” Suns president of basketball operations and general manager, James Jones, said in a team news release Tuesday.

“Keita’s combination of length, defensive versatility and shooting is extremely valuable to our team. Drew brings intensity, toughness and an exceptional combination of skill and athleticism for a player of his size. Chimezie possesses infectious energy and provides us with great athleticism at the forward/center position. His versatility makes him unique. Yuta has proven to be one of the best 3-point shooters in the league and has the size and ability to defend multiple positions.”

Eric Gordon, who has agreed to a two-year, $6-million deal with a player option on the second year, is expected to sign with the Suns this week, sources have informed The Republic.

The Suns are also bringing back Damion Lee and Josh Okogie.

Lee and Okogie played key roles in their first year with the Suns last season. Okogie wound up being the fifth starter with Deandre Ayton, Paul, Booker and Durant while Lee shot a career-best 44.5% from 3.

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Josh Goodwin, Isaiah Todd excited about Phoenix Suns' title chances