The Collin Gillespie Bandwagon Thread

[95pro]

Bigger sample size now that he hit his 100th career 3P. Officially 100/240 (41.7%). Also averaging 7 assists per-36 this season.

That 3pt percentage has gone up due to recent games, last I checked it was around 38%.

 

[Yuma]

I wanted the Suns to do it two seasons ago.

The Suns need to identify a young talent like Gillespie early and sign him to a multiyear contract (such as 4 years) with team options.

It's hard to feel sorry for them that they didn't. Brian Gregory even had a chance prior to the start of the season.

Just like the Dbacks did with Corbin Carrol

 

[Mainstreet]

Just like the Dbacks did with Corbin Carrol

Except it wouldn't have cost nearly that much. And team options could have been built into the contract with a ton of upside and very little downside.

 

[Yuma]

Except it wouldn't have cost nearly that much. And team options could have been built into the contract with a ton of upside and very little downside.

Except look at what Corbin is producing and his pay to similar guys. It was a home run move by the Dbacks. I get what you mean, and it would have been cheaper. They should do that with Livers. Not a home run deal, but this guy would be a solid back up behind Flemming in the future. If it panned out well, you would have Williams and Maluach at center, Flemming and Livers at PF, Dunn at SF and maybe Brooks/other, Green and Booker, with Gillespie as back up, and Brea would be ideal if he could fill in the off the bench three shooter. Would would be getting younger and cheaper. That would allow for solid vets possibly even with the ghost of Beal on the payroll.

 

[Mainstreet]

Except look at what Corbin is producing and his pay to similar guys. It was a home run move by the Dbacks. I get what you mean, and it would have been cheaper. They should do that with Livers. Not a home run deal, but this guy would be a solid back up behind Flemming in the future. If it panned out well, you would have Williams and Maluach at center, Flemming and Livers at PF, Dunn at SF and maybe Brooks/other, Green and Booker, with Gillespie as back up, and Brea would be ideal if he could fill in the off the bench three shooter. Would would be getting younger and cheaper. That would allow for solid vets possibly even with the ghost of Beal on the payroll.

The key is identifying the talent and signing those players before they prove themselves and become eligible for the big pay day.

I'm not sold yet on the Suns other young talent. They will need to flash their potential more.

However, if the Suns believed in Brae when they drafted him, they should have signed him to a standard contract.

 

[Yuma]

The key is identifying the talent and signing those players before they prove themselves and become eligible for the big pay day.

I'm not sold yet on the Suns other young talent. They will need to flash their potential more.

However, if the Suns believed in Brae when they drafted him, they should have signed him to a standard contract.

I think with Brea, it was what we were talking about with Gillespie, having some wiggle room to fit it all under the two aprons. We are incredibly tight. Maybe over the first one even. They don't count you over until league year ends and they see who is on your team. We may have to trade assets to get a deal done just to get under the first apron.

 

[JCSunsfan]

This kid is disruptive on defense, shoots the three, has good finishing skills under the hoop, and distributes well. He is looking like exactly what we want in a starting pg. We will see if this holds up over time.

The problem is that we have two other starting level guards—even star level, and Grayson is not far behind.

These are good problems.

 

[Mainstreet]

I think with Brea, it was what we were talking about with Gillespie, having some wiggle room to fit it all under the two aprons. We are incredibly tight. Maybe over the first one even. They don't count you over until league year ends and they see who is on your team. We may have to trade assets to get a deal done just to get under the first apron.

Signing Gillespie to a long term deal would not have effected this year's salary cap because future salaries count towards different seasons.

My understanding is the Suns got below both tax aprons when they bought out and stretched Bradley Beal's contract.

You are right, the Suns don't have much wiggle room, if any. Still, I don't think signing Brae to a standard contract would have changed that.

If the Suns could trade Richards for a draft pick, I think they would to clear some salary.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[BirdGangThing]

hearing they want a late 1st round pick for richards - might get it too once centers start fallin

 

[Mainstreet]

hearing they want a late 1st round pick for richards - might get it too once centers start fallin

I'd take almost any trade to get rid of his salary. The Suns need someone who can play both power forward and center.

 

[BirdGangThing]

I'd take almost any trade to get rid of his salary. The Suns need someone who can play both power forward and center.

richards for a draft pick and gillespie gets paid

 

[Mainstreet]

richards for a draft pick and gillespie gets paid

How I wish it were that easy.

Hopefully the Suns have a plan but they probably don't or they would have signed him to a multi-year contract when they had the chance.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I'd take almost any trade to get rid of his salary. The Suns need someone who can play both power forward and center.

He is worth a late first and we need ‘em. They should do what they can to get one. They can take lesser deals later if necessary. Gillespie has said he wants to say here so I think he will give the team time to get him a deal.

 

[Mainstreet]

He is worth a late first and we need ‘em. They should do what they can to get one. They can take lesser deals later if necessary. Gillespie has said he wants to say here so I think he will give the team time to get him a deal.

It would be nice to think Richards is worth a late first round pick but I'm not so sure unless a team is desperate for a center.
The Suns essentially traded Josh Okogie and two second round picks (net) for him. They received a second round pick in return.

In regard to Gillespie, if another team offers Gillespie a wad of money when he becomes an unrestricted free agent after the season, the Suns might not to pay him unless they clear salary. My guess, he is going to get more than early bird salary offers.

 

[Hoop Head]

Richard's won't be moved until Maluach gets a little more seasoning. It'll all work out. I trust Gregory and Ishbia to get the roster construction sorted sooner than later.

 

[BirdGangThing]

guessing gillespie gets his 2nd start of the season tonight - actually had a laker fan ask about him at thanksgiving - i asked him to talk to me in 90 days and tell me if he still likes deandre ayton

 

[Finito]

The key is identifying the talent and signing those players before they prove themselves and become eligible for the big pay day.

I'm not sold yet on the Suns other young talent. They will need to flash their potential more.

However, if the Suns believed in Brae when they drafted him, they should have signed him to a standard contract.

I remember when we had the best scouts in the business we almost never missed in the draft, but I’ve said over and over developing talent is just as important as talent itself. We have sucked for 15 damn years look at all the top ten picks we’ve had and how many of them did we develop and sign to long term deals? One Devin Booker

We don’t prioritize development and youth.

 

[Superbone]

I remember when we had the best scouts in the business we almost never missed in the draft, but I’ve said over and over developing talent is just as important as talent itself. We have sucked for 15 damn years look at all the top ten picks we’ve had and how many of them did we develop and sign to long term deals? One Devin Booker

We don’t prioritize development and youth.

It looks to me that that is all changing during the Ishbia regime. Other than giving away all our picks for KD , we have been active in the draft and developing young players.

 

[Mainstreet]

I remember when we had the best scouts in the business we almost never missed in the draft, but I’ve said over and over developing talent is just as important as talent itself. We have sucked for 15 damn years look at all the top ten picks we’ve had and how many of them did we develop and sign to long term deals? One Devin Booker

We don’t prioritize development and youth.

The current Suns ownership prioritizes player development and youth. I'm just not sure if they are good at it.

Drafting Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro in the 2024 draft were solid, especially where they were drafted.

The first round of the 2025 draft has a lot of question marks surrounding it.

Even as bad as Ryan McDonough was at drafting, he selected Devin Booker and he reportedly had a trade in the works to draft Shai. If that had happened, despite all the mistakes, the Suns would be looking good right now less the Durant and Beal trades.

 

[Yuma]

Signing Gillespie to a long term deal would not have effected this year's salary cap because future salaries count towards different seasons.

My understanding is the Suns got below both tax aprons when they bought out and stretched Bradley Beal's contract.

You are right, the Suns don't have much wiggle room, if any. Still, I don't think signing Brae to a standard contract would have changed that.

If the Suns could trade Richards for a draft pick, I think they would to clear some salary.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Usually when they do extend guys it seems like late in the regular season, not this early.

 

[Hoop Head]

The current Suns ownership prioritizes player development and youth. I'm just not sure if they are good at it.

Drafting Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro in the 2024 draft were solid, especially where they were drafted.

The first round of the 2025 draft has a lot of question marks surrounding it.

Even as bad as Ryan McDonough was at drafting, he selected Devin Booker and he reportedly had a trade in the works to draft Shai. If that had happened, despite all the mistakes, the Suns would be looking good right now less the Durant and Beal trades.

James Jones was a terrible GM. I think there's little argument there now. I understand blaming Sarver and Ishbia for certain things but JJ was in over his head and chased names rather than building a team. He didn't even step up and fix issues between Monty and players. That was what he was originally hired to do as well, help create an atmosphere where player relations were top notch.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

James Jones was a terrible GM. I think there's little argument there now. I understand blaming Sarver and Ishbia for certain things but JJ was in over his head and chased names rather than building a team. He didn't even step up and fix issues between Monty and players. That was what he was originally hired to do as well, help create an atmosphere where player relations were top notch.

To give him some credit, he did put together much of this current roster. Think the only players that weren't already here when he left were Brooks, Green, Williams and the rookies.

 

[JCSunsfan]

The current Suns ownership prioritizes player development and youth. I'm just not sure if they are good at it.

Drafting Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro in the 2024 draft were solid, especially where they were drafted.

The first round of the 2025 draft has a lot of question marks surrounding it.

Even as bad as Ryan McDonough was at drafting, he selected Devin Booker and he reportedly had a trade in the works to draft Shai. If that had happened, despite all the mistakes, the Suns would be looking good right now less the Durant and Beal trades.

Instead, we drafted Mikal, which was also a good choice. Cam Johnson was a good draft choice. All kinds of dominoes have dropped since then.

James Jones had a hard time finding a coach and he loved finding journeyman vets. But those vets often seemed like they were just cashing checks.

I have high hopes for Ishbia. He had a Learning curve. It’s just hard to build with young players when you have no picks. Ott seems to be the find of the century. We need to keep that guy.

 

[Hoop Head]

To give him some credit, he did put together much of this current roster. Think the only players that weren't already here when he left were Brooks, Green, Williams and the rookies.

I used to try to be more measured with my criticisms of JJ but I'm a full blown hater at this point. I used to like him from his time here as a player but I genuinely hate what he did to the Suns and he's become my whipping boy for everything bad that's happened here over the last 10 years or so. I dislike him more than Sarver. Sarver never made me question my fandom of the team because he was cheap for financial gain but Jones was incompetent because he thought a GM position was a 9-5 job like managing a grocery store or something.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I used to try to be more measured with my criticisms of JJ but I'm a full blown hater at this point. I used to like him from his time here as a player but I genuinely hate what he did to the Suns and he's become my whipping boy for everything bad that's happened here over the last 10 years or so. I dislike him more than Sarver. Sarver never made me question my fandom of the team because he was cheap for financial gain but Jones was incompetent because he thought a GM position was a 9-5 job like managing a grocery store or something.

I think that’s going a bit far, but you are certainly are entitled to your opinion. I never saw how JJ functioned day to day in the office.

There was a bad vibe here team wise with Sarver. And JJ overvalued players like himself—journeyman, midsized wing, older vet, often one-dimensional.

Stix over Halliburton was unforgivable.