The Phoenix Suns are approaching the start of free agency, a period that will be defined by how many of the pieces that helped them achieve a strong win-total last season can be retained. General manager Brian Gregory has made it clear that continuity around franchise player Devin Booker is the priority, and the most immediate focus is on the two young guards who have already entered discussions with the front office.

The roster currently lists eleven players, and several contract decisions loom. The club option on Jamaree Bouyea carries a modest figure for the upcoming season, while forward Haywood Highsmith is under a non-guaranteed tag that also represents a modest commitment. Those two deals will need to be resolved before the official free-agency window opens. Adding to the cap crunch, the Suns are carrying a sizable dead-cap amount from Bradley Beal’s departure, a liability that limits how much new salary can be absorbed.

Front-office analyst Bobby Marks projects that Gillespie’s new contract will be close to a twelve-million figure per season, and Goodwin is expected to command a deal that sits in the mid-range of the team’s salary structure. Retaining both guards preserves the depth that helped Phoenix achieve its recent success, and it also provides the flexibility to address other roster needs without overextending the salary cap.

The roster also includes G/F Dillon Brooks, who may be in line for a lucrative extension, and veterans Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale, whose contracts represent a significant portion of the remaining cap space. The Suns have already shed the massive contracts of Bradley Beil and Kevin Durant, which keeps them in the lower apron territory but does not guarantee ample flexibility. Gregory’s strategy appears to hinge on using the late-first-round pick in next week’s draft to acquire an NBA-ready talent on a rookie-scale deal while considering the possible movement of either Allen or O’Neale to free up additional space.

Key dates are fast approaching: the Bouyea club option must be exercised soon, and the Highsmith tag expires shortly thereafter. By the deadline, the Suns must have secured extensions with Gillespie and Goodwin or risk losing them to the open market. Once those contracts are in place, the front office can evaluate trade scenarios for Allen or O’Neale before the draft, positioning Phoenix either to add the late-first-round talent or to package assets for a veteran addition. The next month will determine whether the Suns protect their championship window through continuity or sacrifice flexibility for short-term depth.