NBA Rumors: Steve Nash Is a Lock to Bolt Suns in Free Agency

Steve Nash will be an unrestricted free agent for the first time since 2004, and it looks like it's time for him to actually leave the Phoenix Suns.

Nash went on record with Burns and Gambo of KTAR 620 in Phoenix saying, "It is going to be a big, big, big project for me to really get to the bottom of what is the best thing for me."

Looking at just that one quote makes me believe he is really torn between staying in Phoenix and leaving for a contender.

Nash reiterated multiple times that he would like to stay in Phoenix and be a contender there, but this Phoenix team is not nearly championship caliber. Nash said,

"

...I think for me I want to try to see this organization be a contender again and be in the picture where we have the chance to knock off contenders and build a team that gets back to late May in the playoffs and June and if not the finals one day, so I want that for the fans.

"

For Phoenix to be a contender, the roster simply needs more talent. Phoenix owner Robert Sarver needs to be willing to spend and do so smartly. Sarver has not been shy about spending, but has sometimes spent unwisely on players like Josh Childress and Hakim Warrick.

It's clear Nash wants an improved roster and the team should have around $20-30 million to spend. Spending on the right players will be key.

Players like Nic Batum, O.J. Mayo and Michael Beasley all make sense, but all three are restricted free agents and key members of their respective teams, making it unlikely they are signed away.

Not signing better players means not signing Nash. I think deep down he wants to stay in Phoenix, but management will not make the required moves to keep him.

That leaves contenders like the Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks, Portland Trail Blazers and Atlanta Hawks as possible landing spots for Nash.

It will be sad to see the end of the Steve Nash era, but no one deserves to win a title more than Steve Nash. Hopefully he does just that next season.