Lakers Trade Rumors: Lake Show Would Be Wise to Move Steve Nash

Trading Steve Nash may not be a popular decision with some veterans and fans of the future Hall of Famer, but it makes the most sense for the Los Angeles Lakers. According to Hoopsworld's Alex Kennedy, a trade to the Toronto Raptors is a possibility:

The Lakers have been respectable so far this season without Kobe Bryant, who is still recovering from a torn Achilles tendon injury. Still, no one will mistake them for serious contenders, even when the Black Mamba returns.

That said, the team really has to ask itself why it would hold onto a point guard who will turn 40 years old around the All-Star break. Along with not being a serious contender in the Western Conference, the Lakers also don't have a young point guard on the roster for Nash to mentor.

If the Lakers had a rookie or first-year lead guard Nash could help mold, it may make some sense to keep him on the roster for that player's development. The youngest point guard the Lakers have is the 26-year-old, well-travelled Jordan Farmar.

Per Hoops Hype, Nash is on the books for $9.3 million this season and $9.7 million for the 2014-15 season. If the Lakers can get rid of any portion of that salary slot, it would help them pursue potential free agents like Carmelo Anthony this summer.

If the Lakers successfully move Nash and only acquire low-level salaries or contracts that expire at the end of the season, the team would have only $1.7 million in guaranteed salary to pay heading into the 2014-15 season.

Essentially, the Lakers would be wiping the slate clean. Because of L.A.'s drawing power for free agents, the Lakers' return to prominence could be very quick. 

If the team can convince Anthony to bolt New York, re-signs Bryant to a lesser deal and subsequently adds other valuable pieces, the Lakers could be in great position to improve in the 2014-15 season.

Nash doesn't fit into those plans in any way. He's a legend, but moving him would be addition by subtraction for the Lakers.

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