Phoenix Suns: 10 First Steps for Rebuilding After Steve Nash

Steve Nash is a 38-year-old free agent looking for a title and seems to be all but gone from the Phoenix Suns. Phoenix must move swiftly and aggressively to ensure the team does not experience a post-LeBron James Cleveland Cavaliers-esque collapse.

Phoenix is the fourth-winningest team in NBA regular-season history, so a collapse to the bottom of the standings would most likely lead to a firestorm trading of the team and irritation of the fans.

Now, I should warn you these are moves the team should and could make, not will make. So curb your reaction to some of these deals as, obviously, not all these will happen. Read on for 10 moves the Phoenix Suns could make to keep the team in playoff contention even after the imminent departure of Steve Nash.

Use the Amnesty Clause on Josh Childress

Don't get me wrong, I really like Josh Childress as a player and think he could be a decent role player for the Phoenix Suns. The problem I have is paying him the $6.5 million he is scheduled to earn next season and have him sit on the bench.

He simply is getting paid way too much to constitute keeping him on the bench and having that much less money to spend on others. That's where the handy amnesty clause comes in to play. The team could take Childress off its books and use the money in its attempt to sign impact free agents.

Re-Sign Shannon Brown

Shannon Brown was signed to a one-year deal during the offseason and expected to contend for the starting shooting guard spot. Brown ended up securing that starting spot and became a key scorer on the team.

On a team with no apparent shooting guards on the roster for next season, the Suns need Brown back. He's a great player to have come off the bench and is a positive player in the locker room.

I could see Brown signing a two- or three-year deal worth around $4 million a year to stay in the desert.

Sign O.J. Mayo

O.J. Mayo will be a restricted free agent after this season and, if his postseason play is any indication, he will get paid to be a top shooting guard somewhere. As a skilled offensive player and capable defender, Mayo would be a great fit in Phoenix.

Head coach Alvin Gentry is trying to bring a more defensive mindset to the Suns ,and Mayo could bring that while actually improving offensive ability. This move could be the first of many key moves this offseason for the Phoenix Suns.

I could see Mayo signing a four-year deal for $25 million, securing the starting shooting guard spot for years to come.

Sign Aaron Brooks

Aaron Brooks was acquired by the Suns during the 2010-11 season but signed in China and missed the entire 2011-12 season. Phoenix still has his rights and has a need at point guard, so this deal makes a lot of sense.

Brooks is a score-first point guard but there's no doubting his talent. Head coach Alvin Gentry would probably have to change the playbook to better suit Brooks, but the team could benefit highly from having a scorer like Brooks on the team.

Trade Hakim Warrick to the Golden State Warriors

Hakim Warrick is another player who was signed to a terrible contract and really hasn't contributed to the team. He holds a $4.6 million cap number for next season, which is just too much to pay for a third power forward.

That's why the best thing to do is trade away Warrick and try to get some kind of value in return, even if for only a future second-round draft pick.

Here's my proposed trade:

Phoenix trades: Hakim Warrick and $3 million cash

Golden State trades: 2014 second-round draft pick

This deal would provide the Warriors with an extra frontcourt body at only a $1.6 million salary and a player who will have a valuable expiring contract after the upcoming season. The Suns would get much-needed salary cap space to spend on younger players.

Sign Jeff Green

Most people seem to have forgotten that Jeff Green was traded to the Boston Celtics from the Oklahoma City Thunder and was supposed to be a building block for the future. That was until he had to undergo heart surgery sit out the entire season.

Green will be an unrestricted free agent and, despite the heart surgery, is expected to return healthy. The heart surgery could significantly lower his price tag and be a steal for the Phoenix Suns. If there is any way the team could get him for around $3-5 million, it should jump on that.

Green is still an effective player, when healthy, and would instantly become the starting small forward. Imagine a starting lineup of Brooks, Mayo, Green, Channing Frye and Marcin Gortat.

Do Not Re-Sign Grant Hill, Ronnie Price and Robin Lopez

It pains me to say, but Grant Hill should not be re-signed by the Phoenix Suns. Now that it seems Steve Nash will not be returning to the team, the team is bound to target younger players. That means 39-year-old Hill will not be apart of the team's plans.

Hill is still a very reliable defender and a good spot-up shooter, so I expect him to sign with a contender—maybe even the same team Nash signs with.

As for Ronnie Price and Robin Lopez, both have underachieved and should not be in the future plans of the team. It's easy to let Price walk, but management is reportedly interested in bringing back Lopez.

I just don't think it would be wise to pay more then $2 million a year for a backup center who has a limited offensive game. Lopez has a qualifying offer of $4 million and I highly doubt the team will pay that. Look for the team to sign the next guy on my list.

Sign Greg Oden

Greg Oden has been unfortunate enough to have multiple knee injuries and is an unrestricted free agent. Not many teams would be willing to take a chance on Oden because of those injuries, but the guy has talent—when healthy.

Oden has career per-game averages of 9.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in only 82 games. For a guy that would be a backup on the Suns, those numbers would be exceptional. Obviously, his health is the key aspect in this signing, though.

Oden is currently rehabbing and hopes to be ready to play next season. It makes almost too much sense for Oden to go to the team with the best training staff and revitalize his career. Plus, he would come cheap, as no one is going to spend big money on a guy with as many knee injuries as Oden.

Retain All the Assistant Coaches

Assistant coaches Bill Cartwright, Dan Majerle, Igor Kokoskov and Noel Gillespie all had their contracts expire at the end of the season and all need to be re-signed by management. All four are key members of the organization and no doubt vital for head coach Alvin Gentry.

Draft Either Kendall Marshall, Meyers Leonard, Arnett Moultrie or Austin Rivers

The Phoenix Suns likely will not get lucky with the ping pong balls and should have the 13th overall pick in the 2012 draft. In my opinion, four players should get considerable consideration at this pick: Kendall Marshall, Austin Rivers, Meyers Leonard and Arnett Moultrie.

Marshall is my hopeful draft pick, as he's easily the best passing point guard in the draft class and reminds me of a lesser version of Steve Nash. 

Rivers has the most notoriety of all four possibilities and could very well be the pick. He has a natural knack for scoring and is an above-average athlete.

Leonard is simply a large man, as the seven-footer is one of the top-rated centers in the class. His sheer size and potential are enough to warrant a selection at this juncture of the draft.

Moultrie could be a very interesting pick as he is 6'11" with athleticism. He would instantly give the Suns a much-improved frontcourt and could lead to the trading of Channing Frye.