NBA Free Agency 2012: Steve Nash to the Miami Heat This Summer?

Steve Nash just turned up the heat on his own impending free agency this summer, when he appeared on the Dan Patrick Show today.

Nash talked about how he was very loyal to the Phoenix Suns organization and the teams' fans, he owed it to them not to walk away at the trade deadline March 15th.

Here are the key parts of Nash's interview:

"

"I definitely do want to win, I'm not going to come back to the Suns if there isn't an improvement. If they're not ambitious and they're not looking to upgrade the roster seriously. And I think they are. They'll have a lot of flexibility in free agency. I think I've been standing pat so they could do some things this summer. I think they'll become a definite possibility for me, but I do want to win and I do want to consider all my options."

"

Nash would be a great acquisition for anyone capable of bringing in the 38-year-old veteran to lead their offense.

His reason for leaving—the Suns not improving—is the right one. The Suns have been eternally stuck in rebuilding mode, stuck in that horrific NBA doldrums between the top end of the playoffs and the top end of the lottery, floating for years through mediocrity.

A Hall of Fame-worthy career deserves at least a shot at the ultimate prize: an NBA championship. Nash went on to shed some light on where he could end up if he were to test the free agency waters this summer.

"

[On a potential offer from the Miami Heat] "I'd listen. I love what they're doing there," he said. "I have a tremendous respect for them and I'd definitely listen."

"

That would give the Miami Heat a starting lineup of Steve Nash, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Udonis Haslem.

Championship?

Championship.

An incredibly scary thought that the Miami Heat could not only address their big weakness at point guard, but do so by bringing in a future Hall of Famer and the current assists-per-game leader in the NBA. 

Nash certainly seems to have another year in him, but if he has two or three after that left, LeBron James' prediction about "not two, not three, not four..." championships could prove correct after all.