Steve Nash Trade: Landing Star PG Perfect Move for Lakers

For much of last season, I heard analysts and Los Angeles Lakers fans talk about the team's dire need for an upgrade at point guard. Even after the team landed Ramon Sessions at the trade deadline, there was the sense that a move would need to be made at the trade deadline.

Well, Los Angeles, say hello to Steve Nash. He's the answer to all of your basketball prayers.

Nash agreed to a three-year deal with the Lakers that will pay him over $25 million on Wednesday evening. In return, the Phoenix Suns received two first-round picks (2013 and 2015) and two second-round picks (2013 and 2014).

For Nash, the deal was perfect for two reasons: He stays close to his family in Phoenix, and he has a legitimate shot at winning an NBA title now.

For the Lakers, Nash is the perfect addition to a Kobe Bryant-centric offense. Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com did a fantastic job of breaking down how the trade will benefit the team:

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The Lakers were already looking for ways to reduce their reliance on Kobe iso situations. It's just not efficient basketball, and Kobe isn't 27 anymore. Nash is a heck of a new addition to help with that. Nash will get Kobe shots; he's simply brilliant within any half-court offense. I think running an offense with Kobe as an option and not as the instigator is a game-changer for the team. Plus he's a great pick-and-roll option for Gasol and Bynum.

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And imagine if the Lakers end up trading for Dwight Howard. That would be a very well-balanced, veteran trio to compete with the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs of the world.

Still, the partnership between Kobe and Nash will boil down to Kobe's willingness to trust the ball in Nash's hands. He'll need to give the wily point guard room to create shots for everyone on the team, even in crunch time.

While there's no doubt Kobe should take the majority of the team's final shots, he need not go into total ball-dominating mode down the stretch either.

Steve Nash doesn't guarantee that this team will be title contenders next year. They could still use a perimeter shooter or two, they need to decide what to do with Pau Gasol and Kobe must relinquish some of his stranglehold on the offense.

But this is a step in the right direction. Nash is the sort of accomplished veteran presence that Kobe will respect, and he still has some good basketball left to play. The point guard woes are resolved in Los Angeles.

Hit me up on Twitter—my tweets want Dwight Howard to just get traded already, too.