Phoenix Suns Why the Aging Steve Nash Might Not Be Dealt

Steve Nash has made an entire career out of tweaking conventional wisdom. 

After all, how good could a kid born in South Africa and raised in Canada be at basketball? 

That train of thought landed Nash at tiny Santa Clara University. 

Once there, Nash led the Broncos to three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. Included in those appearances was a tremendous upset of the No. 2-seeded Arizona Wildcats in the opening round of the 1993 tourney. That is one of only four times in NCAA history that a 15 seed has upset a two seed.

Impressive, but Nash would never make it in the NBA right?

Wrong again, picked 15th overall by the Phoenix Suns in the 1996 NBA Draft, Nash took some time to figure out how best to navigate the league. He was dealt to Dallas, where he steadily improved. Nash would eventually return to Phoenix where he would reach his full potential.  

Since his return to Phoenix for the 2004-2005 season, Nash has been on a roll. Six times he's finished the season averaging over 10.0 assists per game. Five times he's led the league in assists per game. He's won two MVP awards. He's also made three All-NBA first teams, as well.

Now at the age of 38, he is entering the final year of his contract in Phoenix. Conventional wisdom suggests that as an aging player with an expiring contract playing for a sub-.500 team, he should be traded.

After all, Phoenix is not headed to the playoffs this season, and 38-year-old point guards can't withstand the rigors of the NBA season. Plus, he's not getting younger next season, right? No team would actually re-sign him, would they?

Actually, why wouldn't they?

Assuming that Nash won't be asking for a long-term deal similar to what Deron Williams or Chris Paul will ask for, there's no reason for Phoenix to not re-sign Nash this offseason. If he can be signed for a reasonable amount for two seasons, Phoenix would be foolish to allow him to walk.

A few things about the current not-so-young Steve Nash. He's currently leading the NBA in assists per game (again) with 11.1. In a league that is as strong at the point guard position as it's ever been at any point in its glorious history, the No. 1 assists guy continues to be Nash.

In fact, since the 2004-2005 season, only two point guards have led the league in assists per game: Nash and Paul. That's it. All of this has transpired while players such as Williams, Rajon Rondo, Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, John Wall, Tony Parker and Jrue Holliday have been in the league.

Last night, Nash squared off against yet another young hyped point guard. Ricky Rubio has been making regular appearances on highlight reels all season long. The Spanish import is among the league's most popular rookies. The game last night was one where youth did not win out over experience. Rubio had 13 points, 2 assists and 1 turnover, while Nash dissected the Timberwolves for 13 points and 17 assists. 

Nash won't ever be listed among the league's best defensive players; he's not a perfect player. But at 38, Nash isn't all that different from the Nash at age 30. He's still a liability on defense. He still has a tendency to turn the ball over. He also consistently controls the tempo of games. He gets his assists on a team with only four players averaging over 10 points per game and Nash is one of them.

Unless Phoenix has a plan in place to replace Nash with one of the league's very best young point guards, then trading him seems foolish. Phoenix will have a lottery pick regardless of whether or not they deal him. Nash probably won't net the team a player who will facilitate the rebuilding process any faster than keeping Nash at point would.

In fact, it makes sense to keep Nash and bring players in who can benefit by being presented with the easier scoring opportunities that Nash will provide if he's running the show.

Rarely would resigning a 38-year-old free agent be considered a shrewd move; but Nash is sort of a rare breed. The NBA has seen a rash in injuries this season as a result of the the lockout, which not only shortened the preseason but condensed the regular season into a more grueling exercise. Nash, in spite of his age, has remained healthy, missing only three games out of 35.

Barring the cliched "offer they can't refuse," Phoenix should not deal Nash. That doesn't mean they won't pull the trigger; but it does mean they should think long and hard before they do. There is risk in not dealing Nash, only to have him walk away as a free agent following the season.

We don't know for certain that Nash will walk away. We don't know for certain that any player they do acquire in exchange for Nash will flourish in Phoenix. No team will hand over a prodigious young talent in the middle of an NBA season in exchange for a player who might not even remain on that team through the end of the summer. Nash's pending free agency makes his trade value limited.

Not dealing Nash is without question a risk for Phoenix. It's beginning to look like a risk well worth taking.