NBA Trade Rumors: Lakers Must Hedge Bets on Steve Nash

If the Los Angeles Lakers are going to spark their offense and make a run in the NBA Finals, they will need to make a serious run at a star. That star is Steve Nash, who the Lakers have the guns to land. 

Randy Hill of Fox Sports Arizona spoke on a report that would send Nash north to the Lakers.

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Anyway, a Portland radio report -- relayed by a Phoenix sports-talk radio guy -- had the Lakers sending the aforementioned Fisher and Artest to the Washington Wizards, the Wiz unloading Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee on the Suns, and the Suns whisking Nash to Hollywood. I suppose Phoenix also would land one of those L.A. draft picks.

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The Lakers have to make this trade happen. With Kobe Bryant at 33 and Pau Gasol at 31, they have to do everything possible to win now. This trade would put the Lakers in excellent position to do just that.

Los Angeles is getting next to nothing from their point guards. That is what burned them in the playoffs against J.J. Barea a season ago. Going against the likes of Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul in the postseason is not going to be any better. 

The flaw in Nash's game is his defense. The hole in using that as a reason to stay away from him is that the point guard duo of Derek Fisher and Steve Blake has not done the Lakers any good. Even if he can't play defense, at least Nash can run the offense to keep pace with the Western Conference's best point guards. 

The Suns don't have anywhere near the offense that the Lakers have. Still, take a look at his numbers.

PPG	APG	3PT %	FT %	FG %
15.1	10.0	45.5	87.2	55.9

If the Lakers can land an All-Star point guard to run the offense while keeping their current group of Bryant, Gasol, and Andrew Bynum, they have to make it happen. 

With a point guard of Nash's caliber, they are a contender in the West, especially with the other three players. Without one, they will certainly make the playoffs, but are not a real threat to get beyond about the second round again. 

This isn't a trade for the future, it's a trade they need to make for right now. With players like Bryant and Gasol leading the team, Los Angeles needs to do everything they can to be more of a championship contender. 

The Lakers will always be able to build a contending team. Can you ever remember a time in their history where they were not making the playoffs? It hasn't happened. 

So, Nash's age can't scare them. They need to make this happen. Bring Nash to Los Angeles, and sell out for an NBA title. 

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