NBA Rumors: Teams That Must Compete With Phoenix Suns to Sign Steve Nash

Steve Nash's impending free agency is going to be a hot topic of conversation until he signs a new deal in the offseason.

Alex Kennedy of Hoopsworld reported that the Phoenix Suns will attempt to keep him on a two-year deal worth approximately $20 million, but it's going to be incredibly difficult to do so.

Nash has already said that he won't return to the desert if there isn't improvement on the roster, and the veteran free agent has been very open about his desire to play for a team that can compete in the postseason.

At 38 years old, money is not going to be the motivating factor for Nash at this stage in his career.

Here are the teams that will compete with Phoenix for Nash's services.

Dallas Mavericks

While almost everyone is focused on landing Deron Williams in Dallas, the possibility of bringing Nash back into the fold has been largely ignored. Despite the fact that the pairing of Dirk Nowitzki and Nash didn't produce results that some had previously expected, it's worth exploring once again this time around.

If the Mavericks fail to land the "big fish" in Williams, bringing back Nash should provide for enough financial wiggle room to allow Dallas to bring in another player alongside the two of them.

We saw a Mavericks team that looked old, slow and lifeless at times just one season after winning a championship, and Mark Cuban isn't going to just accept that moving forward.

Indiana Pacers

Darren Collison and George Hill have been a serviceable combination for the Pacers this season, but how much better would this team be with Nash running the point?

I've campaigned for this idea all season long and I'm not going to back off of it at this juncture. Adding Nash alongside fellow veteran David West would really provide a solid sense of leadership to a young team that is already very much on the upswing.

While I'm not suggesting Nash to the Pacers is likely to happen, I do think that it's a very intriguing possibility and he will consider the idea after watching this scrappy group come together in the playoffs.

Miami Heat

Obviously Nash would have to take a huge pay cut to make this possibility a reality, but can we just imagine how dangerous Miami would be with Nash at the point?

The thought of him running a pick-and-roll offense with LeBron James would be terrifying for the opposition. Additionally, Nash could really space the floor even further for this group after shooting 53.2 percent from the field and 39.0 percent from behind the three-point line this season.

Adding Nash to an already loaded Miami team could really make this club one to remember for a very long time.

Los Angeles Lakers

Just like with Miami, Nash would have to take a huge pay cut to play for the Lakers. Would he be willing to do it for a chance to play alongside Kobe Bryant?

A pick-and-roll point guard could really help Los Angeles better utilize its big men, and Nash would really help to solve the very obvious spacing problem the Lakers continue to have.

He has a keen ability to find his big men beneath the basket, and the Lakers need a point guard who understands how to facilitate the proper pace of the offense, which Ramon Sessions has really struggled with to date.

New York Knicks

I'd be remiss if I didn't service the thirst of Knicks fans who long for Nash at the point, but there are a couple of problems with this particular scenario. 

Mike Woodson seems to like having a veteran point guard running his offense, but the Knicks remain committed to Jeremy Lin and will likely have to give him the maximum amount of money allowable under the "Arenas provision" to retain the restricted free agent. As a marketing dream and solid player, the Knicks won't let him walk out the door.

Not only will Nash have to take a pay cut to join the Knicks, but he's a poor fit in Woodson's offense and would take the ball out of Carmelo Anthony's hands frequently.

It's certainly a nice idea, but the Knicks' roster has a lot of question marks as we enter the offseason and New York simply can't afford to go all in on the idea of adding Nash with so many other areas of focus.