The Collin Gillespie Bandwagon Thread

Phrazbit · Saturday at 1:19 AM

GatorAZ said:
Gillespie averaged more assists per game last year in 28 mpg than Jalen Green has in any season of his career. More importantly his AST/TO is much better.

It makes more basketball sense to pair our best player with the better PG and bring Jalen off the bench where nobody else can create their own shot.

Gillespie is a better passer, shooter and defender than Green.

The Green is better at is creating his own shot (although, Green isn't particularly good at making them). Green is also more athletic and he's younger. So, in theory, Green has more upside.

However. Gillespie has shown continual growth throughout his career and I would say he was unquestionably a better contributor last season than Green, IMO, isn't not even close. Contrast that against Green... he's the same player now as he was when he entered the league. He's not developed in any meaningful way whatsoever since his rookie year. I don't see how a guy has star potential when he's the same player entering year 6 that he was at the end of year 1 and that player is not particularly good at anything that matters.

Phrazbit · Saturday at 1:21 AM

Mainstreet said:
The Suns need to re-sign Green or trade him which makes decisions complicated.

We absolutely do not need to resign Green. No one would offer him even half of his current salary on the open market. This is a "prove it" year for him. He needs to show he can meaningfully contribute.

Yuma · Saturday at 7:12 AM

Phrazbit said:
We absolutely do not need to resign Green. No one would offer him even half of his current salary on the open market. This is a "prove it" year for him. He needs to show he can meaningfully contribute.

I agree. However, I think sometimes you should stop digging a hole when you already created one for yourself. The NBA doesn't always look at it that way. I hate saying this, but the Suns will probably overspend to extend him. From what I am reading he has one more season with us that becomes an expiring contract season. If we were ever going to trade him, it would be then.

GatorAZ · Saturday at 10:10 AM

Phrazbit said:
Gillespie is a better passer, shooter and defender than Green.

The Green is better at is creating his own shot (although, Green isn't particularly good at making them). Green is also more athletic and he's younger. So, in theory, Green has more upside.

However. Gillespie has shown continual growth throughout his career and I would say he was unquestionably a better contributor last season than Green, IMO, isn't not even close. Contrast that against Green... he's the same player now as he was when he entered the league. He's not developed in any meaningful way whatsoever since his rookie year. I don't see how a guy has star potential when he's the same player entering year 6 that he was at the end of year 1 and that player is not particularly good at anything that matters.

If Gillespie just takes a moderate leap next year he’s probably a top third starting PG. Stats like EPM had him as a top-75 player in impact last season but he’s gotta prove it.

Yuma · Saturday at 10:14 AM

GatorAZ said:
If Gillespie just takes a moderate leap next year he’s probably a top third starting PG. Stats like EPM had him as a top-75 player in impact last season but he’s gotta prove it.

I saw what seemed like he was having a shoulder injury of some sort. The cupping marks became really visible late in the season. Also, late in the season he was targeted a lot by teams as a defensive weak link. Still, the name of the game is putting the ball in the basket. If you are scoring more than they can score on you, then you should play. The trend was he faded slowly over the season. Maybe better fitness, sleep, etc., he can adjust to being basically a starter. Remember, Denver wasn't playing him that much, and he was injured. He jumped up a lot in minutes. That was a huge adjustment for him to make.

AzStevenCal · Saturday at 11:13 AM

GatorAZ said:
If Gillespie just takes a moderate leap next year he’s probably a top third starting PG. Stats like EPM had him as a top-75 player in impact last season but he’s gotta prove it.

I'm convinced that his downturn was more the result of the shoulder and hand injuries. Don't know that I'm right since the front office is so tight lipped on these things but I do know the hand continued to bother him for at least a month. Anyway, if I'm right and if we get a healthy version of CG I don't see how we can keep him off the court - he should get at least 30 minutes nightly.

Carolinacacti · Saturday at 8:22 PM

Yuma said:
I saw what seemed like he was having a shoulder injury of some sort. The cupping marks became really visible late in the season. Also, late in the season he was targeted a lot by teams as a defensive weak link. Still, the name of the game is putting the ball in the basket. If you are scoring more than they can score on you, then you should play. The trend was he faded slowly over the season. Maybe better fitness, sleep, etc., he can adjust to being basically a starter. Remember, Denver wasn't playing him that much, and he was injured. He jumped up a lot in minutes. That was a huge adjustment for him to make.

This is why they gave Spencer a two way. Spencer can play so many games as a two way player. Give Collin some games off especially back to backs. Spencer hopes someone at the deadline will sign him or

Yuma · Sunday at 3:13 PM

Carolinacacti said:
This is why they gave Spencer a two way. Spencer can play so many games as a two way player. Give Collin some games off especially back to backs. Spencer hopes someone at the deadline will sign him or

Depending on injuries, trade, etc, he could work his way onto the squad. Meanwhile, the G League squad could certainly use his services from time to time. Helps that it's a local team and travel isn't involved.

Carolinacacti · Sunday at 3:37 PM

I think he is hoping another team might need him. I doubt he plays G League

Hoop Head · Sunday at 5:17 PM

Carolinacacti said:
I think he is hoping another team might need him. I doubt he plays G League

He can't sign for anyone else. He's under contract to us on a Two-Way. He'll definitely see some time in the G-League.

Mainstreet · Sunday at 6:04 PM

And there is Sam Hoiberg too who can play some point guard.

JCSunsfan · Sunday at 8:30 PM

CG might be our best pg option by any means. Even better than trading for one. We just need open minds.

Hoop Head · Sunday at 8:54 PM

Mainstreet said:
And there is Sam Hoiberg too who can play some point guard.

I'm glad the team addressed the PG spot like they said, how they wanted a PG to help develop and feed the youngsters in the G-League. Spencer and Hoiberg should do that. Their games seem similar enough to Collin also which should help regardless of whoever they're paired with.

Superbone · Sunday at 10:06 PM

Hoop Head said:
He can't sign for anyone else. He's under contract to us on a Two-Way. He'll definitely see some time in the G-League.

What makes you so sure he'll spend time in the G-League? Usually experienced players don't go down there very often from what I know.

elindholm · Sunday at 10:29 PM

GatorAZ said:
If Gillespie just takes a moderate leap next year he’s probably a top third starting PG.

Maybe, if that moderate leap is concentrated almost exclusively in ball-handling, which was a marked weakness of his last season.

Hoop Head · Sunday at 11:35 PM

Superbone said:
What makes you so sure he'll spend time in the G-League? Usually experienced players don't go down there very often from what I know.

Spencer signed a Two-Way contract. He's limited to 50 games with the main squad. Unless he spends the first 50 with the main squad without getting send down and we create a roster spot to adjust his deal, he'll spend some time in the G-League.

Yuma · 2026-07-06T05:43:37-0700

Hoop Head said:
Spencer signed a Two-Way contract. He's limited to 50 games with the main squad. Unless he spends the first 50 with the main squad without getting send down and we create a roster spot to adjust his deal, he'll spend some time in the G-League.

I think DNPs don't count against his total.

Carolinacacti · 2026-07-06T06:19:20-0700

Hoop Head said:
Spencer signed a Two-Way contract. He's limited to 50 games with the main squad. Unless he spends the first 50 with the main squad without getting send down and we create a roster spot to adjust his deal, he'll spend some time in the G-League.

Suns could trade him at dead line for cash.

Hoop Head · 2026-07-06T10:34:39-0700

Carolinacacti said:
Suns could trade him at dead line for cash.

Two way players can't be traded like normal players.

Adrian · 2026-07-07T09:50:26-0700