Suns must bring back soon to be free agent at all costs after Thunder loss

Collin Gillespie has already firmly established himself as one of the cult figures to root for this season, and Friday night's Phoenix Suns' loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder took that love one step further again.

At a time when the Thunder were vanquishing all before them, Gillespie and company made them really sweat, even if they ended up losing the game 123-119 behind a couple of key late plays for the Thunder.

Suns have to keep Gillespie next season at all costs.

This was Gillespie's second straight start for the franchise, and you could make the case it was the second time after his heroics in the win over the Sacramento Kings that he was also the Suns' best player. Certainly their most impactful, although center Mark Williams was big versus the Kings.

Which once again brings into focus the desperate need the franchise should have to keep him beyond this season. Right now he's on a minimum deal, and you best believe he could get paid the midlevel elsewhere. General Manager Brian Gregory surely won't let that happen though.

The difficult part in bringing Gillespie back - and really his fit is better here than anywhere else in the league - is how to free up both the money and the roster space. Obviously Gillespie is already here as the backup floor general, but he continues to push for more minutes and responsibility.

Really though it is the fact that Williams has to be extended that is a problem, while Devin Booker, Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks are making a combined $112 million alone next season. Which is why Grayson Allen is likely going to have to be moved in order to bring Gillespie back at the right number.

That will hurt in the short-term, but there is no denying the massive impact Gillespie is having on both ends of the court. One national media outlet even led off on a huge, league-wide story by using Gillespie as an example recently, proof of the attention he is beginning to receive.

The Thunder have moved to 19-1, and right now are looking like one of the most inevitable regular season forces in league history. Only the Suns did what most couldn't and made life difficult for them, and they'll get another chance to do so in their Emirates NBA Cup quarter-final.

Collin Gillespie was a massive part of the reason why, and that is priceless in today's NBA. Head coach Jordan Ott is quickly building a culture built on all of the skills that Gillespie possesses, and he has to be brought back at all costs next season.