NBA Free Agents 2012: Why Steve Nash Should Choose the Orlando Magic

The 2012 NBA Playoffs are currently underway, but the 2012 NBA free agency period is inching dangerously close, with one major superstar about to hit the market—Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash.

The Suns are doing everything within their power to keep Nash, including reportedly offering him a two-year, $20 million deal.

Despite that ridiculous amount of money being offered, it doesn’t sound like Nash is interested. Nash is 38 years old and has yet to win a championship. Nash has made it clear to the Suns organization and everyone involved that he wants to win now.

That means teams like the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, and New York Knicks will be in the running for Nash’s services when the NBA free agency period opens.

While the Heat and Knicks are solid options, the Magic are the best choice for Nash. Here’s why:

Immediate playing time

In Orlando, Nash will be the starter right away and not have and not have any threats to his starting role should he begin to falter. In New York, Jeremy Lin isn’t going anywhere, and if Nash has a bad game, the media will spin the “Nash or Lin” debate to a fever pitch.

In Miami, Mario Chalmers has looked solid, and it’s hard to imagine the Heat have enough money to bring in Nash as a starter. With Orlando, Nash won’t have any issues with money or fans should he struggle.

Jameer Nelson is a free agent, leaving the door wide open for Nash. He fits the offense better because the Magic focus on shooting the three to win, which brings me to my next point:

The offense

As stated, the Magic live and die by the three. Nash is prolific at shooting the three and will excel in Orlando because he’ll have many open looks with defenses keying on Dwight Howard.

In Miami, there won’t be enough shots to go around thanks to Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh. James likes to act as a point, so a traditional point guard like Nash might not be a great fit.

The same thing goes for New York. Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony are going to take all the shots, and Nash might not be a great fit for a team that tends to have selfish tendencies.

Dwight Howard

Go ahead, envision a pick-and-roll with Nash and Howard.

Unstoppable.

There aren’t many teams in the league that are going to be able to stop that. Nash can’t find that anywhere else. There’s no effective big man in Miami and the Nash-Stoudemire experiment in Phoenix didn’t work out. That was without Anthony in the corner sulking because he didn’t get to shoot.

In Orlando, Nash gets the most dominant big man in the game setting picks for him and allowing Nash to make the veteran decision. It’s a duo many have dreamed of, but that is now actually in the realm of coming to fruition.

All Nash has to do is make the right decision. 

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