Dallas Mavericks: Steve Nash Traded to the Los Angeles Lakers
Cue the large riot in Dallas starting...Now.
According to multiple sources (and confirmed by his agent Bill Duffy) two-time MVP point guard Steve Nash has been traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for two first-round and two second-round picks.
Multiple reports have also confirmed that it will be a sign-and-trade situation, as Nash will reportedly earn a three-year contract worth approximately $27 million and will pair up with Kobe Bryant in a very exciting backcourt.
"Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash talked about playing together with Lakers on Monday night, and again late this afternoon, source tells Y!
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 5, 2012"
Nash was highly coveted by the Dallas Mavericks, and the interest of having a Nash reunion with the Mavs was higher than ever once they missed out on the opportunity on bringing in Deron Williams.
Which means, in a span of 24 hours, Dallas has now swung and missed on both of their top plans to make a splash in free agency, and their time is running out ever so quickly to make a move.
And with multiple teams making hard pushes for guards Goran Dragic and Jeremy Lin, the Mavs are running out of options and running out of time.
According to CBS Sports' Ken Berger, the Charlotte Bobcats are now the latest team to make a push for Dragic, and are prepared to make him an offer:
"The Bobcats have been in touch with Dragic's agent and will be making an offer, league source says.
— Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) July 5, 2012"
As for Lin, reports are saying that the Houston Rockets are prepared to offer the New York Knicks' rising star with a three-year contract that would roughly pay around $30 million. However, now that the Knicks have missed on the chance of bringing in Nash, New York should be more than prepared to match any offer that Lin should receive.
So after all of that, I ask the same question I proposed last night:
What's next?
Right now, there's only one answer to that question: Anything the Mavs can do, do it.
Jason Kidd and the Mavs have been talking about a new contract, but now that Nash isn't going to New York, that could possibly open the door for the Knicks to make a run at the guy they've been coveting since 2010.
Unless management turns around and offers Eric Gordon or Roy Hibbert another max offer, then there's really nothing else that Dallas can do that would make a splash around the league.
It was a gamble, and not everyone knew the risks.
We now see the risks are far outweighing the reward, and at the worst time.
Catch up on everything related to the Mavs and free agency by checking out my other updates.
