2012 Free Agents 2012: Is Steve Nash an Option for the Los Angeles Lakers?

The Lakers have had a hole at point guard for years. Sure, Derek Fisher has had his moments, but he was never more than an average player.

By the end, he was such a liability that the Lakers had to give up a first round pick to get rid of him.

The player most fans have their eyes on in free agency, especially now that Deron Williams is apparently not an option, is Steve Nash. 

Is Nash really an option? Let's look at who could be involved in the Nash sweepstakes.

First and foremost, we have to talk about Miami. They seem to be first in line for all ring-starved veterans.

They have Mario Chalmers, but it isn't too different from the situation the Lakers have with Ramon Sessions. He's a fine player, but he's not Nash. 

Miami has a lot to offer Nash. Aside from living in Miami—and the added bonus of not having to pay a state income tax—he would help create the best foursome in the league.

If Nash chose Miami, the Heat would be unstoppable. They'd have all stars at four positions and more talent than anyone could hope to compete with.

From a character standpoint, Miami seems like a bad fit. Nash has always stood for loyalty and team play, traits the Heat aren't known for. It seems odd that someone like Nash would choose to play for them.

The Knicks would be next in line.

Nash lives in New York, so the transition for his family would be easy. He's also very familiar with Amar'e Stoudemire, as they played together in Phoenix. Reuniting that duo, along with Tyson Chandler and Carmelo Anthony, would make the Knicks a dangerous team. 

But, Jeremy Lin is probably going to be New York's first priority. Basketball aside, he's too much of a cash cow to give up. My guess is that the Knicks stick with Lin solely for his marketing potential.

That puts the Lakers in third. There will be other teams in the chase as well.

Expect Dirk Nowitzki to recruit Nash heavily if the Mavericks miss out on Deron Williams. The two are best friends, and finishing their careers together would mean a lot to them.

Then there are the Raptors. If Nash feels comfortable with the idea of not winning a championship in his career, playing in his home country might be appealing to him.

Nash may also worry about the basketball implications of playing for the Lakers. He needs the ball in his hands to make plays.

So does Kobe Bryant.

Can the pair coexist? This group of Lakers isn't exactly known for their defense, and adding a liability like Nash wouldn't help that.

Here is my point: the Lakers will call Steve Nash, and he'll probably listen. In the end, I wouldn't expect him to choose the Lakers. There are too many teams that make more sense. 

The most likely scenario is Sessions coming back and having another chance to be the starter. It isn't the sexy move, but it's certainly the easiest. 

So be ready for the Lakers to make a run at Nash, just temper your expectations a bit. It's going to be a long shot.