A year after finishing 10 games under .500 and missing the playoffs for the first time in five seasons, the 2025-26 Phoenix Suns clinched the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference to compete in the play-in tournament.
While the short-term focus is no doubt winning the play-in and making noise in the playoffs, the Suns’ front office must also be thinking ahead to the offseason and free agency.
A number of Suns players — including two key starters — will become free agents at season’s end.
Those starters will no doubt be the primary focus of General Manager Brian Gregory in his first full offseason with the team, but some key bench guys who made a big impact should get attention as well.
Here’s an early look at Suns players who may not be back after the summer.
Collin Gillespie, Mark Williams both set to become free agents this summer
Both Suns starting center Mark Williams and point guard Collin Gillespie will have their contracts come off the books whenever the postseason concludes for Phoenix.
Williams, the 24-year-old former first-round pick who the Suns traded for last summer, will be a restricted free agent. That means Phoenix, in some ways, holds the cards to his future with the “right of first refusal.”
In other words, teams around the league can negotiate a contract with Williams, but the Suns will ultimately have final say on whether they want to match an offer extended to the talented big man.
Gillespie, meanwhile, will be an unrestricted free agent free to sign with any team. However, the Suns hold Gillespie’s early Bird rights, a silver lining to his free agency that may ultimately allow Phoenix to keep the breakout guard for the long term.
Gillespie was nothing short of brilliant for the Suns in his third season in the NBA. He showed up in clutch moments and broke the individual record for 3-point makes in a season that was held by Quentin Richardson for more than 20 years.
“Q” you may recall was traded away after setting his own record from beyond the arc, so we’ll have to see if Gillespie follows that same path. Provided he’s voiced a love for Phoenix and his role on the team, it would be difficult to envision him not coming back.
Jordan Goodwin among Suns’ depth pieces set for free agency
In addition to Gillespie and Williams having an uncertain future in The Valley, 2026 Dan Majerle Hustle Award winner Jordan Goodwin along with Amir Coffey are set to be unrestricted free agents.
Guard Jamaree Bouyea has a club option for the 2026-27 season, while two-way players Isaiah Livers and Koby Brea will join Williams in restricted free agency.
Haywood Highsmith, who was signed to a multi-year deal after the trade deadline, will likely be back. However, it’s worth noting that the second year of the two-year deal he signed is not fully guaranteed.
Of the players listed in this category, Goodwin was the biggest impact player for Phoenix. Through his aforementioned hustle and contributions on the offensive glass, “Goodie” showed Suns fans why the Los Angeles Lakers were foolish to cut him loose.
Of course, his solid play will likely result in a more representative contract for him in the seasons to come. Given that the Suns have to figure out whether they intend to extend both Gillespie and Williams, Goodwin may have to look elsewhere this summer for a new contract.
With the big three of Devin Booker, Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks all under contract for next season at roughly $57 million, $36 million and $20 million, respectively, the Suns' financial flexibility (or lack thereof) could complicate things for Gregory and the Suns brass as they look to build around those guys.