3 Phoenix Suns who increased their value around the league this season

The 2024-25 NBA regular season is officially in the books, which means the Phoenix Suns have been put out of their misery. Not even the false hope of a play-in tournament game to look forward to, as the team could only manage 36 wins despite having Kevin Durant and Devin Booker healthy for much of the campaign.

Even worse, the Houston Rockets are likely to benefit from the Suns being so bad and taking what will be a lottery pick from them this summer. There's a reason why this is perhaps the most stuck organization in the entire league right now, and it is unclear how exactly owner Mat Ishbia plans to get out of this mess.

Some players managed to raise their stock in chaotic season.

Despite falling well short of expectations, some players on their roster managed to do the unthinkable and actually boost their value around the league. Which is just as well, because a couple of these players could one day soon be used in trades to try and get out from under Bradley Beal's contract for example, or even as part of a potential Durant blockbuster this summer.

3. Collin Gillespie

There wasn't much to feel good about around The Valley this season - but in two-way guard Collin Gillespie at least - fans had a reason to smile. About the only drawback was the fact he was on that aforementioned deal, because the Suns could have done with him for a lot more than the 50 games he was allowed to spend with them while also suiting up in the G League.

Gillespie managed nine starts out of 33 games played - and although his numbers never jumped off the page - he had some notable performances. More than the times he got hot shooting the ball - he managed to connect on 43.3 percent of his 2.7 attempts from deep each night - it was the fact he cared at all that had fans and teammates alike raving.

It is also the main reason he has to be on this roster next season, although the Suns will face competition from other teams who can give him a bigger role. Gillespie is everything you would want from your point guard in the league today. His frame means he can hold his own defensively, he fights through picks and contact exceptionally hard, and he tees up his teammates well.

The fact he has a shot is a bonus, and he proved he can play alongside some of the biggest names in the league. Getting more run out of Gillespie alone wouldn't have changed the Suns' fortunes, but they definitely would have hung around in some more games if he was playing more than 14 minutes per game when they did have him on the main roster. That is not easy to come by.

2. Bol Bol

The most unexpected name on this list, Bol Bol did enough in his second season with the Suns to ensure he ends up getting another shot in the league next year. From his perspective it is hard to know what was more frustrating, only appearing in 36 games or only getting 10 starts having proven to head coach Mike Budenholzer he could have a positive impact on the court.

Bol's 3-point shot was nowhere near as consistent (34.4 percent on a career high 2.6 attempts per game), and yet he still found ways to be useful. He was given his chance during a period in the season when everything was beginning to fall apart - and although he had some nice games and didn't hurt the Suns much when out there - he was still yanked in favor of more dependable players when fit.

Perhaps most impressive of all from the player's standpoint, the team was actually marginally better defensively when he was on the court, conceding 115.9 points compared to 117.7 as a whole on the season. That might look like a hollow victory - but given the criticism Bol has received on that end throughout his career - it is worth shouting about.

He also looked more comfortable than ever out on the court - and although there are few better situations for him than Phoenix right now - he may feel that after two seasons of failing to nail down a consistent role, the time has come to move on. Should that happen, there's a chance that more than just a minimum contract is waiting for him on the open market. Bol deserves it.

1. Ryan Dunn

The Phoenix Suns needed to nail their draft picks last summer - and in first round selection Ryan Dunn - they at least got something right. Dunn came out of the gates swinging from 3-point range to begin the year - and although he cooled off massively and ended up only hitting 31.1 percent of those shots - he still made a couple of bigs one when the team needed them.

Really though it was the defensive end where Dunn made his mark - and while he's lagging behind former Suns' selection Toumani Camara who is excelling in Portland - it was easy to see where Dunn can have an impact here for a long time. The fit next to Booker and even Durant made sense right away, and Dunn gladly defended some of the best scorers in the league each night.

His value is only going to keep trending north, as the Suns look to shake things up this summer. He's heading into the offseason as a starter for the franchise next season, and is one of the few players the team could actually trade if they wanted to. Being in the second apron complicates that - and they shouldn't want to move him anyway - but it is at least worth noting.

This may just have been a parting gift from General Manager James Jones, and it is one that was badly needed. Whether the Suns take a step back around Booker, blow it up altogether or even remain as they are, Dunn has a future in every scenario. That's why he's already become so valuable to the organization.