Collin Gillespie cashed in with a $48 million contract after being a Suns afterthought

The Phoenix Suns just made their first real move of the offseason, and it’s a bet on a guy who wasn’t even supposed to be in the rotation a year ago.

Collin Gillespie is signing a four-year deal worth $48 million, per Shams Charania of ESPN. That’s a massive jump for a player who started the 2024-25 season on a two-way contract — basically the NBA’s version of a probationary period.

From two-way to eight figures

Gillespie originally joined the Suns as a two-way player, meaning he split time between Phoenix and the G League. But he didn’t stay in the shadows long. His shooting — especially from deep — and his relentless energy forced the coaching staff to find minutes for him. By midseason, he was a regular part of the rotation on a team that was mostly disappointing.

Then Jalen Green went down with a lingering hamstring issue. Gillespie got thrust into the starting lineup. And weirdly enough, it worked. He fit next to the Suns’ stars like he’d been there the whole time. Not flashy. Not overpowering. Just steady and confident.

He’s undersized for a guard, sure. But he plays bigger than his frame. There’s a scrappiness to him that fans latch onto, and his 3-point shot is legit — he shot over 39 percent from deep last season, which is the kind of number that gets you paid in today’s league.

What this means for Phoenix

This is the first domino in what could be a busy free agency for the Suns. They’ve got cap constraints to deal with, and locking in Gillespie early at a reasonable number gives them some flexibility. The contract averages $12 million a year, which is solid value if he keeps developing. If he stagnates? It’s still not a disaster for a team that’s spent way bigger on way riskier bets.

The Suns haven’t announced anything officially yet, but the reporting is pretty clear — this one’s done. Gillespie went from fighting for a roster spot to securing generational money in less than two years. It’s the kind of jump that reminds you why two-way contracts exist in the first place.

We’ll update this as more details come out, but for now, Gillespie’s got a bag, and Phoenix has a shooter.