The Collin Gillespie Bandwagon Thread

[Mainstreet]

By having his early-bird rights as well, this allows Gillepsie to sign and not affect the cap space, allowing them to go over the limit with his deal. That should make fans feel comfortable about the Suns’ salary issues with Jordan Goodwin and Mark Williams as free agents, too.

Suns guard expected to return to Phoenix in the offseason. How much could that cost?

Collin Gillespie expresses desire to return to Phoenix in exit interview.

www.brightsideofthesun.com

JMHO, but I think all the salaries count towards the cap. Hopefully I'm wrong.

This is from Bobby Marks of ESPN:

Bobby Marks Apr 28, 2026, 12:20 AM ET

Because he signed two contracts with the Suns (a two-way in 2024-25 and his current one-year deal), Gillespie can sign for up to four seasons and a $14.9 million starting salary. The contract must be for a minimum of two seasons and cannot include an option.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/48432907/nba-offseason-2026-draft-free-agency-trade-targets-30-teams

 

[SirStefan32]

I think it was just poor and confusing wording. I think he was trying to say that they can go over the cap to sign him because they have the early Bird rights. You don't need the cap space to sign him like you would if he were a random free agent, but because it's not full Bird right, they can only pay him so much (League average, if I remember correctly.)

 

[Mainstreet]

On Sports360AZ, Gerald Bourguet writes a free to read article about what it will take to re-sign Collin Gillespie.

Below is a snippet:


By Gerald Bourguet, Sports360AZ, Posted May 6, 2026 at 2:05 pm

Remember, the Suns are only operating with $14.8 million of space beneath that luxury tax line. Re-signing Gillespie and Goodwin and then filling out their two remaining roster spots would likely be enough to push Phoenix back into tax territory.

What type of contract will it take for Suns to re-sign Collin Gillespie in free agency?

By Gerald Bourguet Coming off a 45-win season and unexpected trip to the playoffs, the Phoenix Suns have two options heading into another important offseason. They can choose to keep their new core intact, hoping that another year of continuity and internal growth will yield better results with...

sports360az.com

 

[Phrazbit]

On Sports360AZ, Gerald Bourguet writes a free to read article about what it will take to re-sign Collin Gillespie.

Below is a snippet:


By Gerald Bourguet, Sports360AZ, Posted May 6, 2026 at 2:05 pm

Remember, the Suns are only operating with $14.8 million of space beneath that luxury tax line. Re-signing Gillespie and Goodwin and then filling out their two remaining roster spots would likely be enough to push Phoenix back into tax territory.

What type of contract will it take for Suns to re-sign Collin Gillespie in free agency?

By Gerald Bourguet Coming off a 45-win season and unexpected trip to the playoffs, the Phoenix Suns have two options heading into another important offseason. They can choose to keep their new core intact, hoping that another year of continuity and internal growth will yield better results with...

sports360az.com

I would be extremely surprised if, both, Allen and O'Neale, are on next season. I would be less surprised if neither are still here than both. For sure, one is gone. That clears up enough money that keeping Colin and Goodwin we'd be below the tax... different story if Williams is kept. But, I am not concerned if we're over the tax. Ishbia says he has no fear of it and if he is willing to pay, fine. We just need to steer clear of the aprons.

I'd also be surprised if we didn't use the MLE to bring in help up front, especially if Williams is not kept.

I think we're going to sniff around on Green and find no takers. He isn't hopeless, but he needs to make a big leap to be worth that contract.

 

[Mainstreet]

I would be extremely surprised if, both, Allen and O'Neale, are on next season. I would be less surprised if neither are still here than both. For sure, one is gone. That clears up enough money that keeping Colin and Goodwin we'd be below the tax... different story if Williams is kept. But, I am not concerned if we're over the tax. Ishbia says he has no fear of it and if he is willing to pay, fine. We just need to steer clear of the aprons.

I'd also be surprised if we didn't use the MLE to bring in help up front, especially if Williams is not kept.

I think we're going to sniff around on Green and find no takers. He isn't hopeless, but he needs to make a big leap to be worth that contract.

The thing on both Allen and O'Neale, although their contracts are not excessive, a contender might not want to take on their salaries in trade.

Losing those two first round picks used to acquire Williams to add as potential sweeteners in a trade really hurts. The Suns are going to have to shed salaries somewhere if they are to keep Gillespie and Goodwin.

The Suns definitely need to strengthen their front court with or without Williams.

On draft day, the Suns do have two first round picks available to use in trade, but I don't like to even think about it.

On paying the luxury tax, it's not just about paying the tax, but the penalties for being a repeat offender.

 

[GatorAZ]

Not doing this song and dance with Grayson again. Thank you for your service.

 

[SirStefan32]

I don't think Ishbia cares about the repeat tax offender penalties. It's the second apron penalties that he doesn't want to get into. Tax repeater penalties mean as much to Ishbia as an extra cup of coffee from a local coffee shop means to me.

 

[Hoop Head]

I don't think Ishbia cares about the repeat tax offender penalties. It's the second apron penalties that he doesn't want to get into. Tax repeater penalties mean as much to Ishbia as an extra cup of coffee from a local coffee shop means to me.

He doesn't mind paying it but he aims to avoid the repeater tax that pushes pick to the end of the round. He needs to make it out of the tax every 3 years for that. That's why it was a big deal to get out this year.

 

[Phrazbit]

He doesn't mind paying it but he aims to avoid the repeater tax that pushes pick to the end of the round. He needs to make it out of the tax every 3 years for that. That's why it was a big deal to get out this year.

Yeah, but we have 3 years to get back below it now. I don't see that being hard.

Allen and O'Neale's contracts are tradable, Green and Brooks will either expire or be shipped off.

Avoid the aprons, we're already hamstrung as it is. If Ishbia wants to pay the tax, which he says he's fine with, that is great.

 

[95pro]

It is a shame we decided to keep paying Beal another 4 years (including 25-26) while we could have hung on to him longer to reduce our sentence in the long run.

 

[SirStefan32]

He doesn't mind paying it but he aims to avoid the repeater tax that pushes pick to the end of the round. He needs to make it out of the tax every 3 years for that. That's why it was a big deal to get out this year.

Isn't that a second-apron repeat offender penalty? I don't think paying a tax triggers picks being frozen.

 

[Hoop Head]

Isn't that a second-apron repeat offender penalty? I don't think paying a tax triggers picks being frozen.

I can't find a definitive answer. We will pay less having dodged the tax occasionally but I can't figure out the pick side.

 

[Mainstreet]

Gerald Bourguet on podcast speculates on the interest and salary range for Collin Gillespie.

Perhaps $11-13 million a season?

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[Adrian]

Not likely to happen, but I don’t blame him, I wish he would take less to stay.

 

[Cheesebeef]

It is a shame we decided to keep paying Beal another 4 years (including 25-26) while we could have hung on to him longer to reduce our sentence in the long run.

Yeah… that didn’t make much sense.

Although does not having his full salary help us this offseason be able to resign Goody and Colin?

 

[Bada0Bing]

Yeah… that didn’t make much sense.

Although does not having his full salary help us this offseason be able to resign Goody and Colin?

Needed to get under the 2nd apron. The repeat offender penalties are brutal. Sucks, but had to be done.