Steve Nash Rumors: Breaking Down the Potential Suitors for Aging PG
In an offseason with plenty of star-related intrigue, the free-agency decision of Steve Nash could ultimately prove to be the most important.
Nash, the ageless wonder who had one of his best seasons in 2011-2012, hits the market this summer, looking for a chance to get his hands on the elusive Larry O'Brien trophy.
But Nash made some waves in a recent interview with ESPN Radio, articulating his desire "to be validated with money to a certain extent." It's far from avarice, but Nash made it clear that he wouldn't be willing to take a pay cut just to stack the decks for a championship run.
"I think money in many ways represents respect," said the 38-year-old point guard, "It's not everything, but it's important."
Almost every team in the league would graciously accept Nash's services, but as the logistics of each team's offseason have sharpened into focus, five front-runners have emerged as Nash's biggest suitors.
Let's see how they all stack up.
Phoenix Suns
Most of the young turks who follow the NBA have already conceded Nash's departure from Phoenix, eager to see him suit up for a new team. But the sun hasn't necessarily set on Nash's time in Phoenix quite yet (see what I did there?).
Nash has been the heart and soul of Phoenix's attack since his arrival in 2004. The Suns are sure to pursue their retention of him aggressively, knowing that if they lose him, they will (1) be a virtual lock for the 2013 lottery and (2) see a drastic decline in ticket sales.
Their entire offseason is predicated on keeping their star in Phoenix and making another run at the playoffs.
For Nash, a change of scenery has seemed inevitable since the "Seven Seconds or Less" roster devolved, but the situation isn't as cut-and-dry as it seems. Nash has had the best years of his career in Phoenix, leading the team to the Western Conference finals and winning two MVP awards.
It's the city where he changed his legacy from "Steve Nash: The Guy Who Took This Embarrassing Picture" to "Steve Nash: First-Ballot Hall of Famer."
There's a lot to be said for loyalty and consistency, and Nash loves the Phoenix area.
Brooklyn is one of the two teams on this list whose courtship is irrevocably tied to the outcome of the Deron Williams sweepstakes.
With Russian Mark Cuban at the helm, the Nets are tired of being an afterthought and plan on being immediately competitive upon their arrival in Brooklyn. They've got the cap room to make a splash; they just need to figure out their plan of attack.
Nash could obviously come in and make any team better, but the Nets would understandably halt their pursuit of him should Deron Williams agree to return next season. Williams, as expected, opted out of his contract on Wednesday, but ESPN.com's Chris Broussard reports that his return to the Nets is looking more likely every day.
Avery Johnson was at his birthday party, for God's sake!
Brooklyn would be an intriguing landing spot, certainly, as the team tried to re-brand itself around a new city and a new point guard. But unless the Nets find a way to lure Dwight Howard, they might not have either of the things Nash is looking for: a vacancy at point guard, or a chance of contending for a title.
Just like Jason Kidd (the man he'd be replacing) before him, Steve Nash has an opportunity to return to Dallas in his basketball dotage.
Nash is intrigued by Dallas for a number of reasons. First and foremost, the Mavs represent the only established contender on his list of suitors.
While Nash could certainly push a team like New York over the top, the Mavericks already have a proven track record of success, which culminated in their surprising 2011 title.
On top of that, Nash would get a chance to reunite with Mark Cuban and long-time buddy Dirk Nowitzki (any excuse to show this picture again). The Mavs have had to slow down their tempo the past few seasons, unable to keep up with younger, more athletic teams while the geriatric Kidd ran the show.
But with Nash, whose body still functions like a college player, the Mavericks could go back to running up and down the court.
The thought of trying to guard a Nash-Nowitzki pick-and-pop alone would be enough to give opposing coaches nightmares. If the Mavericks swing and miss on Williams (which is looking more likely every day), Nash is their definite Plan B.
And it's not very often that Mark Cuban has to resort to a Plan C.
Another potential reunion story, Nash would join former running mate Amar'e Stoudemire if he chose to play in New York. Nash and Amar'e weren't as close off the court as Nash and Dirk were, but on the court, they had far more success, making a few legitimate playoff runs.
Nash conceded, however, that the Knicks would have had a better chance of re-signing him had they retained Mike D'Antoni, his former coach whose system he fit perfectly into (per the New York Post).
But still, Nash resolved "to look at everything with fresh eyes," and objectively speaking, the Knicks could be his best chance at success next season.
Nash and Amar'e would once again form the league's premier pick-and-roll duo, and that would only serve as a complement to Carmelo Anthony and Defensive Player of the Year Tyson Chandler (a formerly proficient pick-and-roll partner of Chris Paul's).
The Knicks may not have the money to compete with some of the other teams in the Steve Nash sweepstakes, but he's also looking for the best opportunity to win. I can't believe I'm saying this, but the Knicks might be his best chance of finding that.
Toronto Raptors
The undisputed dark horse in Nash's courtship, Toronto's chances of landing the aging point guard are far better than people give it credit for. According to the Toronto Sun, the Nash-to-the-Raptors rumors are actually gaining steam.
As mentioned earlier, Nash surprised everyone by candidly confirming that money will play a large factor in his decision, and Toronto can provide him the money he seeks.
On top of that, there's the obvious storyline of Nash's return to Canada, where the expatriate-returned-home angle would make him the country's undisputed top superstar.
The presumed downside of signing in Toronto is that it won't be a competitive team. But with Nash in the fold, I'm not so sure that's true.
Let's say, for example, the Raptors draft Dion Waiters. They could boast a starting lineup of Nash, Waiters, DeMar DeRozan, Ed Davis and Andrea Bargnani. That's a two-time MVP, a No. 1 overall pick and three top-15 picks.
They'd also have lottery picks in Jerryd Bayless and Jonas Valanciunas coming off the bench alongside experienced point guard Jose Calderon.
It's not exactly the best lineup on the planet, but you can't tell me it's worse than the Suns were this year. I'll take those guys over Shannon Brown, Grant Hill, Hakim Warrick and Marcin Gortat any day of the week.
The Suns let Sebastian Telfair play meaningful minutes, for God's sake!
Nash almost led a team of untalented misfits to the Western Conference playoffs. I'm sure he could lead a team with uber-high potential to the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. Toronto is a real possibility.
