The Detroit Pistons need to keep a close eye on Phoenix Suns point guard Collin Gillespie. Gillespie is arguably the most improved player in the NBA, award or otherwise, having made a colossal leap from the fringes of an NBA roster to the starting lineup for a potential playoff team.
With an expiring contract and the perfect skill set to take pressure off of Pistons superstar Cade Cunningham, Gillespie should be a top target in free agency. And yet, no one's really talking about him.
Gillespie has perhaps the strongest case for the Most Improved Player award if we're looking at it through the lens of what the name of the honor implies. He's already played more games in 2025-26 (58) than he amassed between his first two NBA seasons combined (57).
Moreover, Gillespie averaged 5.9 points, 2.4 assists, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.2 three-point field goals made per game in 14.0 minutes during his 33 appearances in 2024-25.
In 2025-26, however, Gillespie is averaging 13.4 points, 4.7 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 3.0 three-point field goals made on .431/.420/.843 shooting. Moreover, he's not only playing 28.3 minutes per game, but has started 39 of his 58 appearances for a Suns team that's already within three wins of its 2024-25 total.
Compounded by the fact that the Suns are 6.8 points per 100 possessions better when Gillespie is on the court than when he isn't, he's the epitome of what the Pistons need from free agency.
Pistons must sign Collin Gillespie to ease Cade Cunningham's burden
Cunningham is an MVP candidate who has put the Pistons' offense on his back while still maintaining a high level of play on defense. That's both impressive and alarming, as the Pistons' offensive rating drops from 118.9 when he's on the court to 108.3 when he isn't.
The primary reason that both statistics and the eye test reveal a need for roster growth is the simple fact that Detroit lacks an ideal complementary playmaker.
Daniss Jenkins has turned heads during his breakout season, but is still playing just 17.1 minutes per game. Ausar Thompson has made progress on offense, but he continues to be a non-shooter whom skeptics worry could be targeted in the playoffs.
That leaves a glaring void for a player who can both create for their teammates and space the floor with efficiency and volume. Enter Gillespie.
Collin Gillespie offers on-ball and off-ball value on both ends of the floor
Gillespie is a crafty playmaker and confident shooter who can operate both with and without the ball in his hands. He's shooting a mind-blowing 49.0 percent on catch-and-shoot threes, whereas the Pistons rank No. 25 in the NBA at 35.6 percent.
Furthermore, Gillespie's 4.7 assists per game would rank second on the Pistons behind Cunningham at 9.8—and far ahead of Jenkins, No. 3 on the list, at 3.1.
In addition to thriving offensively, Gillespie is one of the best defenders no one talks about. He ranks in the 87th percentile in off-ball chaser defense, the 86th percentile in ball screen navigation, and the 75th percentile in perimeter isolation defense, per Basketball Index. In other words: He excels in both on and off-ball situations on both ends of the floor.
If the Pistons are fortunate enough to have a chance to sign Gillespie, they shouldn't think twice about bringing in the perfect fit for what the team needs on both ends of the floor.