NBA Trade Speculaton: 10 Teams That Should Throw Cash to Steve Nash
A number of teams this offseason are going to be targeting a veteran player who they can bring in and round out a possible championship team.
Steve Nash is going to be one of those guys.
Nash, a two-time MVP, has become one of the most trustworthy scoring point guards in the NBA over the past decade.
The 37-year-old All-Star has posted at least 10.0 APG in six of the last seven seasons, proving that he's more than capable of meshing with any team who makes a bid for his services in 2011-2012.
Nash is going to be a free agent following next season, which brings about speculation as to the willingness of the Phoenix Suns to part ways with one of the top players in the game.
Every player, or team, has their price to be whisked away to be a part of something bigger.
With that said, here are the top 10 teams that should look to acquire Nash this offseason.
10. Utah Jazz
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The Utah Jazz have been itching to acquire a top-notch point guard since losing Deron Williams to the New Jersey Nets.
Even though the Jazz aren't equipped with overwhelming talent, Al Jefferson remains one of the most underrated big men in the league and teaming him up with Steve Nash would do wonders.
Nash would stay in the West, have a down-low scoring presence to spread the floor and be surrounded with other complementary athletes like Paul Millsap and Devin Harris, who can move to shooting guard.
It's one of the more outside shots you'll see as far as the Phoenix Suns trading Nash away, but Utah could be in the mix to help recreate what it had a few years ago.
9. Los Angeles Clippers
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This is more or less a similar situation to the Utah Jazz's chances of landing Steve Nash.
Granted the Los Angeles Clippers recently traded Baron Davis for Mo Williams, Nash would be an instant upgrade, offensively and defensively.
The Clippers' Blake Griffin is one of the biggest up-and-coming talents around the league and only needs a few more key components to break out as a playoff-caliber player.
Nash and Griffin could easily become one of the most prolific offensive duos in the NBA.
Along with other talented players such as Eric Gordon and DeAndre Jordan, acquiring Nash could help put the Clippers over the hump and make them a possible eighth seed in the West.
8. Denver Nuggets
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The Denver Nuggets showed this year that trading away Carmelo Anthony for Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari and Raymond Felton could prove to be the winning solution in Mile High.
Steve Nash would be an excellent fit for the Nuggets, but the problem still remains that Denver already has two solid point guards, Ty Lawson and Raymond Felton.
Packaging one of those players to acquire Nash this offseason seems reasonable, so if the Nuggets wanted the MVP point guard they could get him.
If Denver was able to squeeze out a deal, they'd become a serious threat to make a deep playoff run in 2011-2012.
7. Dallas Mavericks
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The Dallas Mavericks are NBA champions!
Beating the Miami Heat and the "Big Three" in six games, Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry and Jason Kidd have showcased that true teamwork and making that extra pass go a long way to winning a title.
The only reason why I put the Mavs on this list is because point guard J.J. Barea is going to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, leaving Dallas with an opportunity to either re-sign one of the main pieces off its bench, or think outside the box and make the squad even better.
Adding Steve Nash would reunite him with Nowitzki, as well as make that lineup even better.
Kidd would have no problem either coming off the bench or moving to shooting guard because, let's face it, J-Kidd handled himself pretty well against Dwyane Wade and LeBron James in the Finals.
Nash could enable the Mavericks to become even better from the outside, as well as replacing Barea's ability to get down low and create plays.
6. Miami Heat
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After losing to the Dallas Mavericks in this year's NBA Finals, the Miami Heat are not going to go quietly.
Dwyane Wade and LeBron James are going to brainstorm as to how they can make this Heat team even better.
With Mike Bibby struggling throughout nearly the entire year, as well as the inexperienced play at times from Mario Chalmers, adding Steve Nash makes a lot of sense.
Can you imagine Wade, James, Chris Bosh and Nash?
I sure can.
The Heat are not going to sit back and let other teams make crucial moves.
They're going to play the market as well, getting ready to make that one move that could make them an instant NBA champion.
5. Portland Trail Blazers
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Portland would be an interesting landing spot for Steve Nash.
The Trail Blazers already have some serious playmaking ability with Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldrige.
Not to mention outstanding role players in Wesley Matthews and Gerald Wallace.
The Blazers do have Andre Miller, who has proven that he's one of the more seasoned point guards around, offering great decision-making and a solid outside game.
But let's face it, Miller is no Nash.
Adding Nash to this rotation would be crazy.
The 37-year-old would provide consistent scoring, an upgrade in passing and playmaking from the point guard position and could launch Portland into the elite teams in the league.
4. Atlanta Hawks
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The Atlanta Hawks have been searching for a remedy for years.
Consistent contenders in the Eastern Conference, the Hawks have been unable to get over the hill and make it to the later rounds of the playoffs.
Joe Johnson, Al Horford and Josh Smith lead an explosive and athletic lineup, but Atlanta has been lacking a true point guard for quite some time.
Mike Bibby was a fairly decent project gone wrong and current point guard Jeff Teague is too young to rely on.
So why not Steve Nash?
Who knows? If the Hawks were to add Nash, they could escape the third- or fourth-seed title they've been nearly a lock for over the past few years.
Remember, Nash and Johnson played one season together with the Phoenix Suns from 2004-2005.
Add Nash and Atlanta could make it to the conference finals.
3. Orlando Magic
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Trading for Steve Nash this offseason would not only be a big factor in making a deeper playoff run for the Orlando Magic, but it would help keep Dwight Howard in town.
There has been much speculation toward Howard and the possibility that he'll refuse to re-sign with the team after the 2011-2012 season, forcing the Magic to entertain the idea of trading one of the best players in the NBA,
Getting Nash to Florida would round out that team nicely.
If Orlando were to re-sign Jason Richardson, getting Nash could help spread the offense and serve as an immediate upgrade over Jameer Nelson.
The Phoenix Suns point guard could be the main key for the Magic to retain Dwight Howard.
2. Los Angeles Lakers
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This is one of the more relevant trade speculations over the past month or so.
After getting swept by the new NBA champion Dallas Mavericks during this year's playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers are going to look to make major changes to their team for the upcoming season.
Hiring new head coach Mike Brown was the first step toward creating buzz in L.A.
Trading for Steve Nash would be the second piece to the puzzle, allowing the Lakers and Kobe Bryant to start over with a new game-planner in Brown and a fresh face in Nash.
Although they would likely have to trade either Andrew Bynum or Lamar Odom to acquire the Phoenix point guard, any way Los Angeles can put Bryant, Pau Gasol and Nash on the floor at the same time would be worth it.
Look for Lakers fans to push this subject within the next few months, and also pay attention to Kobe and his possible lobbying for Nash in Los Angeles.
1. New York Knicks
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After looking through all the possible trade scenarios involving Steve Nash leaving Phoenix, the New York Knicks make the most sense.
The Knicks need depth at point guard, and they seem to have the money and front office will power to get it this offseason.
Plus, Nash played under Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni from 2004-2008, creating some of the best Phoenix Suns teams in recent history.
If Nash were to land in the Big Apple, he'd form one of the best trios in the NBA with Carmelo Anthony and former teammate Amar'e Stoudemire.
Nash and Stoudemire were very successful as partners in Phoenix, meshing offensively as well as defensively.
Nash is no doubt a better all-around point guard than Chauncey Billups at this stage in their careers, so slotting the former MVP into the Knicks offense could make New York and Spike Lee an instant contender for Eastern Conference bragging rights.
