Steve Nash: Money Will Rule out New York Knicks in Free Agency

If money in his next contract is as important to Steve Nash as he made it sound Monday, the New York Knicks can likely rule themselves out of the bidding for the free-agent point guard this summer.

Appearing on ESPN Radio to help promote a soccer tournament in New York, Nash admitted that money will play a role in where he signs when free agency opens Sunday, July 1. 

From Marc Berman of the New York Post, Nash said:

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"I definitely feel I want to be validated monetarily to an extent. It’s still very important. I think money in many ways represents respect. For example, if you sign with a team and take half or less money, six months later they trade you. It has to be one of the factors. It’s not everything but it is important and will be one of the factors involved."

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Regardless of whether the Knicks win their bird-rights case with Jeremy Lin and Steve Novak, which arbitrator Kenneth Dam already granted last week, or the NBA wins their appeal, the Knicks aren't likely to have the money available to make Nash a competitive offer. 

According to Howard Beck of The New York Times, Dam ruled that both Lin and Novak were "entitled" to their early-bird rights. That decision means New York will not have to use its mid-level exception to re-sign Lin or Novak, giving the Knicks some added financial flexibility in free agency.

The mid-level exception is worth around $5 million.

However, the NBA is appealing Dam's decision, and that process could take as long as 40 days to complete. The Knicks will have to deal with not knowing their current cap situation until the decision is finally made.

But even if the appeals process goes quickly against the NBA, New York will be hamstrung enough money-wise that Nash probably isn't a realistic option. 

Even a $5 million mid-level exception is likely to be dwarfed by offers from several other teams, including the Phoenix Suns, Toronto Raptors and either the Dallas Mavericks or Brooklyn Nets, depending on which franchise lands All-Star point guard Deron Williams in free agency.

The Suns were reportedly ready to offer Nash a two-year, $20 million deal back in early May, according to Alex Kennedy of HOOPSWORLD. 

While Nash isn't ruling out any option—what free agent would?—and the Knicks may be closer to an NBA title than several of the teams that will offer him big bucks, the 38-year-old knows that taking a big pay cut in chase of a title can be a risky endeavor. 

From the Post's story:

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"It’s nice to have that idea, I want to win a championship. That’s also difficult. You can turn down a ton of money for a team you think can win a championship and there’s an injury and the chemistry isn’t right and you’re traded in six months. I have to put all the things into the hat."

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Nash to New York has always seemed like a pipe dream, a best-case scenario that worked before Mike D'Antoni was fired and Jeremy Lin was delivered to a world-wide stage. Considering that the money clearly doesn't line up for the two parties, it may be time to close this book once and for all.