NBA Trade Rumors: Why the Phoenix Suns Need to Keep Steve Nash This Season

While the name "Steve Nash" never fails to generate a trade rumor, the reality is he'll be staying in Phoenix, and that's at both the desire of Nash and the team. According to the Arizona Republic:

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"Nash keeps repeating that he wants to stay with the Suns this season for better or worse. Beyond that, Nash is ineligible for a contract extension until July but was assured that the team wants him to remain in its long-term future. 'I've met with him and he knows he's welcome to stay here as long as he wants,' said Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby, comparing it with how Isiah Thomas and Magic Johnson remained in Detroit and Los Angeles, respectively. 'The opportunity is available to him.'"

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In fact, every time the subject is broached with either Babby or Nash, neither has ever uttered a peep other than "we want to stay together forever." In my humble opinion, that extends beyond his playing days. 

Steve Nash is a smart player and, frankly, a smart man. A couple of years ago the Oklahoman took a poll of players and coaches that asked them "who has the highest basketball IQ." Nash finished third, behind only Kobe Bryant and Jason Kidd. 

Since then, Nash probably has elevated his status. It was one thing when he was making players like Amare Soudemire look great. Now he's elevating players like Channing Frye. 

When Bleacher Report colleague Ethan Norof ranked the 100 smartest players of all-time, he ranked Nash a pretty respectable 10th. 

Nash has great vision, but part of what makes him special as a player is his understanding of the game and the way it works. 

My guess is that Nash and the Suns won't see the sun set on their relationship long before it rises again, only this time with Nash as an assistant coach being groomed to be a head coach. It make a lot of sense for both parties. 

Nash is tremendously popular in Phoenix and the fans would love to see him stick around with the team, but beyond that Nash would actually make a great head coach.

Steve Nash's grasp of the game translates well to the bench and I can see him being groomed for that job. That's why you won't see him getting traded away from Phoenix any time soon.