Collin Gillespie’s ascent is one of the best stories of the 2025-26 NBA season. Two years ago he was on a two-way contract with the Phoenix Suns, fighting for roster spots and wondering if his NBA career would take hold. This season, he started 58 of 80 games, averaged 12.7 points and 4.6 assists, and shot 41.8 percent from three-point range on 7.2 attempts per game. He is now one of the more compelling mid-tier free agents of the summer, and the Suns have a real fight on their hands to keep him.

The Phoenix Suns hold Early Bird rights on Gillespie, meaning they can offer him a starting salary of approximately $15 million — roughly equivalent to the non-taxpayer mid-level exception. That number represents a massive raise from his current one-year minimum deal, and it should be the baseline of any serious negotiation. The problem for Phoenix is that teams with cap room can go considerably higher, and Gillespie’s profile — a shoot-first point guard who defends and rarely turns the ball over — is exactly what rebuilding franchises are desperate to find.

The Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, and Brooklyn Nets all have cap room this summer. Each of them needs point guard help. A three-year offer to Gillespie starting at $18–20 million annually would be a credible play from any of those franchises, and Phoenix would need to match or watch him leave after investing two seasons in his development.

Mark Williams, a restricted free agent, is the other significant Suns decision this summer. The 23-year-old center was acquired from Charlotte and played in 50 of 55 games before a knee injury sidelined him late in the season. He averaged 11.7 points and 8.0 rebounds in 23.6 minutes per game — production that the Suns deliberately kept modest to preserve his health in a competitive Western Conference race. Williams is a legitimate franchise center candidate, and Phoenix must decide whether to commit to him long-term or risk losing him to an offer sheet.

Jordan Goodwin, claimed off waivers after the Lakers cut him last summer, has been a vital rotation piece. Averaging 8.7 points and 4.9 rebounds while generating 1.5 steals per game, Goodwin is the kind of high-energy, defensively active bench contributor that contenders prize. He should earn a guaranteed contract above the minimum — likely in the $5–7 million range — and Phoenix is the most likely landing spot.

Player	2025-26 Salary	Rights	Projected Market
Collin Gillespie	$2.3M	Early Bird	~$15–20M/yr
Mark Williams	$6.3M	Full (restricted)	$15–20M/yr
Jordan Goodwin	$2.3M	Early Bird	~$5–7M/yr

Phoenix must prioritize matching any offer sheet on Williams and getting Gillespie done before the market drives his price beyond their reach. The Suns spent two seasons building these players into rotation contributors. Losing both in one summer would set the franchise back two years of development. Retain Williams on a fair rookie-extension, bring Gillespie back at $16 million per year, and keep the young core intact for Kevin Durant’s final championship window.