Steve Nash: Why He Needs To Take a Page Out Of Carmelo's (Or LeBron's) Playbook

Steve Nash deserves a trade. I think that's safe to say. He has led the Suns to the cusp of the title time and again, and the team can't get over the hump. Management has revamped the roster over and over, and Nash still gets close to a ring. Still, he can't get over the hump.

This season, it looked like he would carry the Suns back to the playoffs, where anything can happen. Then, the Suns traded away some of his most valuable teammates for Vince Carter. For five seasons, he has been the heart and soul of a contender/semi-contender, and the team rewards him with a player who has no real reason to win a title. So, where does Nash stand now?

He stands firmly as a Phoenix Sun. He doesn't request a trade. He supports his teammates. He leads them on and off the court. Why, Steve, why? If Nash demanded to 'take his talents to Place X,' would anyone really blame him? Probably not.

Nash has pulled off some serious heroics in Phoenix. Last season, he was a Jason Richardson box-out away from a 2-2 series with the eventual champion. Let's be honest, that team had no business hanging with the Lakers, but Nash willed them to do it. It didn't work out. This team is nowhere near last season's team, and we can't expect Nash to keep being superhuman just to lose. If the team is going nowhere, it only makes sense for them to move him and start re-building.

For the love of Nash, do it Phoenix!

The odd thing about Nash is that he is still a top-flight point guard. He isn't a former star trying to latch on to a title team. The Mavericks, Hawks, and Magic have all shown at least moderate interest in Nash. He could help each of them become serious title contenders.

All three teams are overshadowed and are going to have a tough time advancing to the Finals. With Nash, each team's offense becomes even more dynamic and threatening. In addition, they could have his offense for a few years, meaning they would not be giving players away for this year alone.

Sure, his defense is non-existent, but his offensive mindset can alter a playoff series, which could turn a fringe-team into a more legitimate contender.

After all the Xs and Os, regardless of the quality of his play, Nash deserves a title. He has been a classy leader for his entire career, but he has never been able to get on the right team at the right time. Consequently, he has no rings (or Finals appearances) to show for it. If the Suns moved him to a contender now, Nash could erase his name from the top of the "most playoff games without a ring" list (112).

So, now, what should Nash do? Not what he will do (sit quietly and keep leading a sub-par team to nothingness), but what he should do. In all honesty, he ought to take a page out of Carmelo's or LeBron's playbook and demand to leave. Heck, he should slam the ball down in a game, rip his jersey off, and leave Phoenix for good.

Would anyone really blame Nash if he demanded a trade? Of course not. If Nash took things into his own hands and demanded a trade, Phoenix would more than likely honor it. He could get out. He could be on a contender. He could finally win a championship!

Unfortunately, that won't happen. He will sit quietly and stay in Phoenix through the trade deadline. He will sign a new contract next year and have one less shot at a championship.

If he demanded to be out now, he would be. Phoenix would trade him because they know he deserves it. All he has to do is act like other superstars. It's that simple.

But he won't. Nash will stay classy. He will sit quietly and lead his team to either a low seed or no playoffs at all. He won't act like LeBron or Carmelo.

And, after all the selfish actions we've seen over the last year, maybe it's better that way.