PHOENIX – The offseason looked to give the Phoenix Suns trouble on retaining key players. For the 2026-2027 season, the franchise is only $19 million under the luxury tax already, with only 10 players sign. With key free agents hitting the market, the fear of losing them grew greater. However, NBA insider Jake Fischer reported on The Stein Line about Phoenix already negotiating with two players and confident in them re-signing: Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin.
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Mar 21, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Jordan Goodwin (23) and Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie (12) slap hands against the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
Fischer on Suns’ confident on retaining Gillespie and Goodwin:
Gillespie and Goodwin were critical to the team’s improvement last season, each in the top four in games played. While Goodwin will be easier to re-sign given his expected low salary, Gillespie becomes a much harder number to fit in the salary table. After setting the franchise single-season of three-pointers made, the 26-year-old should expect a massive pay day.
With 12.7 points, 4.6 assists and 4.1 rebounds, Gillespie set career marks at every single stat and will a higher salary than the minimum. The number thrown around is $15 to $18 million, but if general manager Brian Gregory could keep that number on the low end, then the confidence on re-signing him and Goodwin makes much more sense.
Jan 5, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Jordan Goodwin (23) and Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie (12) react to a Suns basket agains the Houston Rockets in the second quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
The fear was the Suns would have to trade a crucial rotational piece to keep all their free agents, which still could happen. Starting center Mark Williams hits the market as well, but the team will have his Bird Rights and can match any offer he receives. Given the big man’s injury history, teams will surely be cautious on offering Williams a large amount of money.
Best case scenario for Phoenix is it re-signs Gillespie and Goodwin, which seems like likely, and Williams returns on the qualifying offer because of the lack of interest from around the league. That will keep the tax bill low, while staying under the first apron and helping the team make future trades down the line. The second part of that scenario seems too optimistic, but regardless, Gillespie and Goodwin are reportedly expected to return to the Valley.
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
