NBA Rumors: Steve Nash Should Choose Dallas Mavericks over Toronto Raptors

Steve Nash needs to ignore the fat contract the Toronto Raptors have offered him and go play for Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks to end his career instead.

ESPN.com's Marc Stein reports:

"

The Toronto Raptors have offered free agent point guard Steve Nash a three-year, $36 million contract, according to sources...industry sources monitoring the free-agent market have identified Toronto as one of four teams that pose the greatest danger to the Suns in terms of signing Nash away, including the Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets.

"

There's no doubt that Nash will be enticed by the Raptors' offer. He's Canadian, after all, and finishing off his career in Canada sounds like a storybook ending to Nash's storybook career.

The only problem with that scenario is that Nash has no chance of winning an NBA title up in Toronto.

Nash's best chance to win a title is in Dallas. The Mavericks are constantly on the precipice of being there already, and adding Nash to the lineup makes then one of the favorites to get to the Finals in 2013. 

Of course, this hinges on what happens with Deron Williams, who is also being courted by Cuban, according to Stein's report. If the Mavericks manage to steal Williams away from the New Jersey Nets, all bets are off.

I don't see Williams leaving New Jersey, though, so Nash is the Maverick's best bet to land an elite point guard. They won't likely be able to match the kind of cheddar that the Raptors have offered, but Cuban has other incentives for Nash to consider.

Imagine a starting lineup that looks like this: Steve Nash at the 1, Delonte West at the 2, Shawn Marion—Nash's old teammate from their time with the Phoenix Suns—at the 3, Dirk Nowitzki at the 4 and (insert center) at the 5.

West can knock down jumpers all day long. When he's not in the game, Jason Terry—one of the NBA's most clutch outside shooters—comes in off the bench. Nowitzki can also knock down shots from anywhere on the court. Marion is a slasher who works well with Nash on pick-and-rolls coming from the weak side down the baseline. 

This team would be unstoppable on offense.

Playing with guys such as these who are well-suited to Nash's style of play should worth more than money, and it may be enough to lure him to Texas. If Nash values winning over cash, he'll make the right choice and turn down the Raptors' lucrative offer to play for the Mavericks.

Follow @JesseReed78