Nash Discussion: No harmony, no chemistry, no system (159)

As Raptors, Knicks & Mavs-fight 4 Steve Nash, the Lakers have also quietly entered the picture & are making a hard push, per league source.

David Aldridge ‏@daldridgetnt

Nash in huge demand around the league, with multiple teams trying to get in hourly, per source.

HANG TIME CAPITAL BUREAU — While the Toronto Raptors and New York Knicks have made strong pushes for free agent guard Steve Nash, the Los Angeles Lakers have, quietly, entered the fray for the 38-year-old guard and are making a strong bid to acquire him, according to a league source.

The Lakers, with a payroll already projected in excess of $83 million next season, would only be able to offer Nash an exception starting at $3.09 million for next season. It’s unlikely Nash would take that, so a sign-and-trade deal would be a more realistic possibility.

The Lakers do have a viable starting point guard they could send Phoenix in such a deal, Ramon Sessions, who became an unrestricted free agent after surprisingly opting out of the last year of his contract. Forwards Jordan Hill and Matt Barnes are also free agents.

The Lakers have also been looking to rid themselves of forward Metta World Peace, who has two years and $15 million remaining on his deal. But the Suns aren’t believed to be interested in World Peace.

Nash is mulling offers from the Raptors, who reportedly have a three-year, $36 million deal on the table, and the Knicks, who only have the $3 million exception to offer as well.

A source said Tuesday that Nash is allowing the Knicks time to try and create a sign-and-trade deal that would be palatable for Phoenix — and also get Nash a higher annual salary. But the Raptors put a crimp in New York’s plans Tuesday when they reached a verbal agreement with restricted free agent guard Landry Fields on an offer sheet worth $20 million for three years.

Fields was one of the players the Knicks had hoped to include in a potential sign and trade with the Suns. But the league’s rules prohibit a team from trading a player who has signed an offer sheet as part of a sign-and-trade deal.
The Mavericks are also looking at Nash, who left Dallas as a free agent in 2004 for Phoenix, after Nets free agent guard Deron Williams opted to remain in Brooklyn on Tuesday. But the Mavericks, according to a league source, have other possibilities if they can’t get Nash, including Clippers free agent Randy Foye, and Aaron Brooks, who played last season in China.

Because Brooks, who had played most recently in Phoenix in the NBA, wasn’t on the Suns’ roster at the end of last season, he can’t be used by the Suns as part of any sign-and-trade deal.

Weezy wrote:I would do a sign and trade for Nash, even at his age he's better than Sessions ever will be.

Weezy wrote:I would do a sign and trade for Nash, even at his age he's better than Sessions ever will be.

Big Mamma Jamma wrote:

Weezy wrote:I would do a sign and trade for Nash, even at his age he's better than Sessions ever will be.

Nash's three point shooting would legitimately provide the Lakers the outside threat they so desperately need. Nash is one of the premier shooters in the league ... absolutely flawless form!

Rooscooter wrote:

Big Mamma Jamma wrote:

Weezy wrote:I would do a sign and trade for Nash, even at his age he's better than Sessions ever will be.

Nash's three point shooting would legitimately provide the Lakers the outside threat they so desperately need. Nash is one of the premier shooters in the league ... absolutely flawless form!

I'm not so sure he'd be a great fit.... he's used to having the ball in his hands almost all the time..... Kobe is as well.... Nash's best asset is how he runs the pick and roll.... that relegates Kobe to a spot up shooter.... Not sure Nash has ever played with dominate players in the post and wing....

The other end of the floor would take a step backwards that much is given..... and after watching Sessions that's hard to say....

For nearly 12 million a year I'd rather get younger and more athletic.... not older and less so....

The Rock wrote:Ahem

http://www.hoopsworld.com/nba-pm-dwight-howard-wants-steve-nash

Battle Tested20 wrote:
I'm sure Kobe would make an adjustment has to how he plays his game on the offensive end with Nash.

I actually believe that if Nash was here we will finally get to see Kobe do what we've wanted him to do for the past couple season. Play more off-ball and work of screens for more catch and shoot opportunities instead of having to always do his moves off the dribble.