Point guard Collin Gillespie will join the Phoenix Suns on a four-year, $48 million deal once the NBA moratorium ends on July 6. The former undrafted free agent spent two seasons in Denver’s system, appearing in 24 regular-season games and shooting 39.5 percent from three before the Nuggets declined to retain him for 2024-25. His departure caps a swift ascent from two-way contract to a starting role on a Western-Conference contender.

In the 2025-26 season Gillespie averaged 12.7 points, 4.6 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 2.9 made three-pointers in 28.5 minutes per game. He posted shooting splits of .418/.401/.874, placing him among only nine qualified players who recorded at least 2.5 made threes per game while exceeding the high-percentage threshold from deep. Those numbers illustrate a rare blend of scoring efficiency and volume.

Advanced metrics from Basketball Index rank him in the 98th percentile for ball-screen navigation and the 94th percentile for off-ball chaser defense, a combination that aligns with Denver’s defensive philosophy. The Nuggets currently sit first in the league in three-point field-goal percentage but only twentieth in attempts, indicating a need for a shooter who can create off the ball and sustain defensive pressure. Gillespie’s ability to space the floor and guard perimeter players would have complemented Nikola Jokic’s pick-and-roll and Jamal Murray’s dual-role versatility.

At roughly $12 million per season, his contract sits well below the market rate for a proven starter and would have been a modest addition to Denver’s salary-cap structure. The Nuggets’ roster is already weighed down by max deals for Jokic, Murray and several role players, leaving limited flexibility for a mid-max backup point guard. Adding Gillespie could have provided a cost-effective upgrade without triggering a significant cap penalty.

The Suns’ willingness to lock up an undrafted guard reflects a growing league pattern of rewarding low-profile talent with mid-max contracts. Denver has traditionally favored short-term two-way deals over committing to developmental guards, a strategy that now appears to have backfired. By allowing Gillespie to leave, the Nuggets not only missed a proven shooter but also handed a West rival a player who can influence the playoff picture.

With free agency looming, Denver must address the backup point-guard vacancy before the July signing period begins. Options include targeting a sub-max guard or a veteran on a short-term deal to preserve cap space. Failing to secure a reliable secondary ball-handler could force Jokic and Murray to shoulder additional defensive attention, potentially eroding the offensive fluidity that propelled the Nuggets to the top of the Western Conference.