The Phoenix Suns didn’t make the kind of offseason splash that grabs headlines, but they did work the edges in a way that could matter. Most of what they handled was internal business, plus a couple of backcourt additions that NBA.com’s Jeff Zillgitt highlighted as underrated moves.
One of those moves was bringing back Collin Gillespie on a four-year deal. Zillgitt pointed to what the undrafted guard did in his third NBA season: in 80 games for the Suns in 2025-26, Gillespie set career highs in scoring at 12.7 points per game, assists at 4.6, rebounds at 4.1, steals at 1.2 and minutes at 28.5. He also shot 41.8% from the field and 40.1% from 3-point range.
Gillespie became a key piece of Phoenix’s second unit last season, and his play was so strong that many thought he deserved a shot in the starting lineup. He’s also the closest thing the Suns have to a true point guard when it comes to organizing the offense.
“Collin embodies the effort, toughness and competitiveness that define our culture,” said Suns general manager Brian Gregory in a statement.
“He thrived in an expanded role last season, proving to be one of the league’s most improved players. Collin has earned the respect of his teammates as well as our community, and we’re excited to see him continue making an impact both on and off the court in Phoenix.”
Phoenix also added Luke Kennard on a two-year contract, giving the roster another proven perimeter threat. Zillgitt noted that Kennard shot 47.8% on 3s last season, and the fit is obvious with Devin Booker and Jalen Green already in the mix. He should have room to work and plenty of chances to stretch defenses.
“Luke’s work ethic and commitment to his craft have made him one of the most efficient three-point shooters in NBA history,” said Gregory after Kennard's signing was made official.
“His floor spacing, high basketball IQ and connective playmaking bring another dimension to our offense. We’re excited to welcome Luke and his family to Phoenix.”
It wasn’t a dramatic summer, and it didn’t make Phoenix an NBA Finals contender. But the Suns should still be in position to make a real push in the Western Conference next season.
In Other News...
Dillon Brooks Just Put Westbrooks Free Agency Drama In Focus
Russell Westbrooks free agency has lingered into the summer with the kind of uncertainty that tends to follow a veteran who still brings name value but no simple fit. He is not expected to return to the Kings, and while there is still reported interest out there, the list of teams willing to make the basketball puzzle work has not exactly grown long. For the Suns, it is the sort of market reality that matters because every possible move around the edges of the roster has to be measured against fit, role and how much control a player needs to be effective.
Dillon Brooks added a blunt layer to that conversation during a recent stream, pointing to Westbrooks ball-dominant style as a challenge for coaches and suggesting it may be part of why the market has been slower to materialize. It was not hard to see why the comment landed: Westbrook remains a player with a track record and a reputation that can still draw attention, and a reunion with the Rockets has been floated as one of the more intriguing possibilities, especially with Kevin Durant in the picture. Even so, the bigger question hanging over all of it is whether a team believes the upside is worth the trade-offs. [Read more 🡒]
Suns Summer Moves Put Phoenixs Biggest Roster Questions Under The Spotlight
The Suns spent much of the offseason trying to stabilize a roster that kept changing around the edges, and their latest wave of moves gives the front office a clearer picture of what this group is supposed to look like entering the new season. Collin Gillespie, Mark Williams and Jordan Goodwin were brought back, giving Phoenix continuity in the rotation and some familiar pieces around the core, while Luke Kennard arrives with a very specific job after the departures of Grayson Allen and Royce ONeale.
Kennards fit is the easy part to understand, since the Suns have been looking for more perimeter help and reliable shooting after those trades opened up a hole on the wing. The harder questions now sit in the balance between keeping useful role players, managing the books and deciding how much flexibility Phoenix is willing to sacrifice to preserve depth, especially with salary analysis already poking at the long-term cost of these deals. [Read more 🡒]
Dillon Brooks Just Added Fuel To One Big Lakers Debate
Dillon Brooks has a knack for turning offseason chatter into something a little sharper, and his latest take on the Lakers fits right into that lane. With Los Angeles reshaping its roster after LeBron James departure, the Phoenix Suns forward pointed to the obvious pressure point: a team built around Luka Doncic may have to lean on him to do a lot of the scoring if it wants to stay in the Western Conference race. The Lakers have added pieces and brought back Austin Reaves, but the conversation around them keeps circling back to whether the roster has enough balance to match up with the leagues best.
The bigger issue, as analysts and insiders have framed it, is not just offense but whether Los Angeles can hold up defensively against the top teams in the West. Brooks comment only adds more fuel to a debate that has followed the Lakers all summer, because even if the talent level is improved on paper, there is still real skepticism about how the pieces fit in meaningful games. For a Suns team that expects to be part of that same conference fight, it is exactly the kind of early-season noise worth watching. [Read more 🡒]