Suns trade All-Star PG Steve Nash to LA Lakers
Once divisional enemies, Nash and Bryant will look to bring LA another championship run
Certainly one of the biggest off-season moves this summer has just sealed the deal. The Phoenix Suns have agreed to a sign-and-trade with their division rival Los Angeles Lakers to send two-time MVP and future Hall of Famer Steve Nash to team up with Kobe and the Lakers.
The exact details of the trade are still getting out, as the Lakers sent the Suns first round draft picks in 2013 and 2015 and second rounders in 2013 and 2014. Nash reportedly agreed to a three-year deal worth $25 million.
Nash has spent the last eight seasons with the Suns and never requested a trade as the Suns struggled to maintain power in the Pacific division. Sources have said that Nash wanted to see if the Suns were serious about building a championship team around the eight-time All-Star and two-time regular season MVP in 2004 to 2006.
The Suns are in the middle of rebuilding as Nash was nearing 38-years old but still having a stellar career, during the 2011-12 season he posted 12.5 points, 10.7 assists, 3.0 rebounds per game and shooting 53% from the field.
Other teams who were in need of Nash were the New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors. The Knicks were hoping to convince him to team up with former teammate Amar’e Stoudemire and upstage the Heat and Nets in the East. Toronto would have made Nash closer to his native Vancouver, BC as he is Canadian.
The Lakers meanwhile will no doubt instantly become contenders for Western Conference supremacy. Yes, Nash’s age is a concern and it’s likely that he’ll retire as a Laker but he does give the Lakers some offensive boost and can take some of the scoring off of Bryant. The Lakers needed a superior point guard after trading away Derek Fisher and relying on Ramon Sessions for the remainder of the season.
Sources at ESPN.com say that Nash will try to convince Suns teammate forward Grant Hill to come to Hollywood to join him. The last time Nash was anywhere close to the NBA Finals was when his Suns lost to the Lakers 4-2 in the 2009-10 Western Finals. If this is his way of putting in all the chips for a last run for a championship, this deal might be it.
photo courtesy of bleacherreport.com
Nicholas Filipas
Do you think this is all the Lakers will do? I personally think this is setting the stage for a run at Dwight Howard. What do you think?
Great posts. Keep up the good work and Rip City!
I would not be surprised if they got rid of Gasol to make way for a Howard/Bynum trade, adding Nash would be a very nice piece to lure Howard now.
Now it could be between choosing Brooklyn or LA, for a championship run, I’d go with LA.
Thanks for the love! Go Ducks!
Solid article bud. And. What. An. Absolute. Shocker. My mind was blown when I found out Steve Nash was going to Los Angeles. It’s going to be very interesting to see how he fits in with Kobe’s ball dominating ways but I think this is good for the Lakers. Instant contenders IMO. Nash should fit right in with the big men and, as usual, he makes everyone better around him. Another NBA season full of new storylines. Also, you think you could check out my blog cuz I’d love to hear what you have to say http://chrisross91.wordpress.com/2012/07/05/head-over-head-for-steve-nash/