Each week, we’ll ask our stable of scribes to weigh in on the five most important NBA topics of the day — and then give you a chance to step on the scale, too, in the comments below.
Say you’re the Suns. What would it take for you to trade Steve Nash?
Steve Aschburner: Here’s what it would take for me to trade Steve Nash: A replacement point guard capable of starting immediately and starring within two years. Another proven starter at one of the big positions. A first-round pick, of course, and maybe a couple of seconds. A check for $3 million. Nash’s blessing of both the deal and the destination. And the paperwork all getting signed on the wrong side of midnight, in the throes of a bender that would make “The Hangover” seem like a Disney flick.
Fran Blinebury: Assuming they can’t get back their former first round pick Rajon Rondo, the Suns are starting over by trading Nash. So they should chase the biggest expiring contract possible. Eddy Curry? Tayshaun Prince? Peja Stojakovic , if you can get a third team involved.
Art Garcia: Other than Deron Williams, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook? Since that’s not going to happen, I don’t know how the Suns trade the face of their franchise and save face with a fan base that’s watched many of its favorites split town in recent years. Captain Canada is 36 and has only one year left on his contract after this season. Let him continue to mentor Goran Dragic, while working the line of succession. Now if Nash asks out, take the best deal out there.
Scott Howard-Cooper: A lot. I’m not of the camp that believes the Suns should do Nash a favor by getting him to a championship contender. The Suns need to look out for themselves. They need bigs. And they need to see if they can force someone to take Hedo Turkoglu as part of getting Nash.
Shaun Powell: If another team offers any combo of a young big man or young point guard, plus a quality backup, I’d send Nash and throw in some hairclippers. He turns 37 this spring, for goodness sake. His value won’t get any higher. Why wait?
John Schuhmann: I’d look for the same type of package that most teams look for when they’re ready do deal a star: A solid young player, a couple of draft picks, and cap relief. Right now, my building blocks are Dragic, [Jared] Dudley and [Robin] Lopez, so in the young player, I might look for a scorer on the perimeter or an athletic big man.
Sekou Smith: The Heat dancers (all of them) kicking down the door to my office with “Will Dance For Nash” t-shirts on might make me think about. I said think about it. This Suns team has a fighting chance to compete for a top four spot in the Western Conference playoff race (it’s WIDE OPEN). They have no reason to panic and do something crazy with one of the most beloved players in franchise history, a guy that’s the face of the franchise. Trade Nash? Why?
Nash deserves better no offense to the SUNS but he really does. they have a shot at one of the top spots this year but what about next year ? unless Steve Nash wants to be like Brett Farve TRADE Him before its TOO LATE
You r obviously a Loon! Trade Nash? Anyone here talking of trading Kobe, Lebron, D Wade, or Chris Paul? Nash is in the same class as these players and I dont hear of anyone saying trade them. Trade for a new brain before you post unintelligent junk like this. Nash is a legacy and the best point guard in the league hands down! Trade him nothing!!!
the suns will not trade nash if they do i will stop being a suns fan because i have loved them since i was born i love arizona and the suns r the best thing about it and kobe was going to be traded because he wanted one a couple years ago and i like how you didnt mention not trading carmelo because that will eventually happen
It’s truely hard to believe what Nash brings to the table at this stage of his career. I have so much respect for Steve Nash and all of his accomplishments, it’s a shame he hasn’t won a ring in his career.
What he brings?????? Uhhhhh…… How ’bout TALENT and VERSATILITY and KNOWLEDGE OF THE GAME and one of the best stat sheets in the League!!! I have an Idea I would like to throw out there. Trade Kobe – I mean what does Kobe bring – hes an old man now based on how long he’s played. Trade him!!
What is wrong with everyone? Why are people suddenly treating Steve Nash as though he was in the ‘Make a Wish’ foundation and trying to ‘get him a ring’ before the end? Nash is a brilliant, talented player and an all around good guy, so is him not getting a ring gonna suddenly make him less so? Is there any reason he cannot finish his career in Phoenix, have his jersey retired and later enter the hall of fame (where he is surely bound) without everyone pulling their hair about him not getting a ring?
People are tying to ship him off to Miami and other teams to give him ‘one more chance’ at the championship. Personally I think it is an insult to his talent and his career. If getting that blasted ring is SO important maybe they should have an ‘honorary’ ring like the Oscars, awarded for ‘outstanding service and respect for the game’.
Zzanzabar
Yea they’re are treating him that way because he deserves respect too, for being a great all around guy like you stated. You think for some reason thats dissin him? PFFF. Hello there has been plenty of examples of aging stars who get traded either because the organization wanted to do right by them, or because different circumstances and possibilities were too much for them to turn down. Please. GET THIS GUY A RING. There is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING wrong with showing love to the player that gave 1000% everytime he stepped on the floor for the better part of a decade. The Suns simply cannot win the West with their current roster without the Lakers having season ending injuries to their any of their big 3. I’m in no way a Laker fan, but thats the bottom line. Phoenix is a player or 2 away where they sit now. This guy deserves to go to MIA or ORL. Why them two? Because they are the ONLY VIABLE contenders out there for the title that do NOT already have a top PG that are not named the Lakers. THATS WHY.
Ship Nash to Miami???!!! Miami is surely going to win the championship – right?? – Pfffff – Yeah Right! Maybe when Nash is 50 and I doubt he’ll be playing then!! And Orlando – A contender????? I almost fell off my chair laghing so hard!!!!!!!
Hedo I guess isn’t working out for anyone in the nba anymore. Toronto was lucky to let some dumb team take him. Thanks you phoenix suns..
Hedo just did not fit the raptors, but i think there’s a chance that he WOULD FIT on the suns. Do not get into conclusions too early. And although i think everyone would argue with me, i think suns would have a chance at the finals if they would find themeselves as a team. I personally think that PHX is a CONTENDER team.
If the suns are smart they’d trade nash but if he wants to stay they’ll respect him and keep him. Either way LA 3PEAT.
LA 3 FEET, and heres hoping they trip on ‘em!!!!!!!
Nash for Nelson and Anderson…
Nash and Howard pick-n-roll will be deadly. You saw what Nash did with Amare’.
Suns Lakers trade
Lakers get: Steve Nash, Jason Richardson, Grant Hill
Suns get: Derek Fisher, Theo Ratliff, Sasha Vujacic
Wherever Nash goes, as long as it is a legitimate title contender, it will be a serious threat to the impeding three-peat by LA. Here are some situations:
1. Orlando – pick and roll with Howard/Bass/Lewis/Carter.
2. Miami – one crazy uptempo team!
3. Dallas – reuniting with Dirk will surely light the fire in their (aging) bellies.
4. Portland – have youth and experience, will travel.
5. Denver – a deadly concoction of Carmelo, Afflalo, Birdman, Nene, and JR Smith.
Situation 6:
Nash stays in Pheonix and meshes with his new team, and wins championship. No one expected them to do what they did last year, I think they will surprise everyone this year too !!!!!!!
Nash definitely should get traded. A player of his caliber deserves a ring after so many years of hard work. I’m sure if Sir Charles played the game in 2010, he would demand a trade unlike Nash being nonchalant about the situation surrounding him. Although there is no way Nash would want to go to Miami–none! The best scenario is going to the Knicks. If the Knicks got Nash, it would make it that much easier to bring Melo on board. Then you have Nash, Melo and Amare…definitely ring contenders!
I wouldn’t trade him unless he demanded a trade. He’s not a pet lol. Saying you’d do whatever’s best for him by trading him to a contender is wrong. It’s like the whole sending your dog to another home because he’ll be better off thing. Let him decide where he wants to finish his career. Obviously it’s a business and the success of your business is your first priority but I think treating him with respect and allowing him to have a say in how the rest of his career unfolds would add credibility. He only has one year left on his contract as well so why not let him have one more chance to compete for tor a title on the team he wants to play for? Steve Nash is one of my all-time favourite players and I would love nothing more than to see him get a ring but I think it should ulitimately be left to him whether or not he should try for one elsewhere. If I was forced to trade him though, and any team was willing to do whatever it took (realisticly)… I’d send him to the Knicks for Felton and Randolph. Nash and Stoudamire reunited and playing in D’Antoni’s system would be scary! Not to mention the good role players surrounding them with Chandler, Gallinari, Douglas, and the others. Easily jump to contenders. And the Suns might be able to unlock Randolphs supposed potential as well as Felton’s game benefitting from Gentry’s system. Good trade for both teams if trading Nash was the only option.
Hi. I’m Toon. I think they should trade suns for Raymond Felton so that he can be wit his best friend Amaori Studamire. It will be the best and new york can win 5 more championchip again
It’s sad seeing nash go anywhere else but it’s NBA it’s part of the merry go round if there are good offers from other teams why not?
Get rid of Turkuglo, get back Barbosa and keep Nash.
nash,turkoglu for nelson,carter…. i think it would be good but dont know bout hedo.. would orlando take him again ?
D
its not a matter if you can trade him . . i think about 90% the nba teams would trade for him
but with all the respect he has earn with the organaztion an the way he changed the system an the style of play in the nba he should go to a contender team an my choice with out a dout would be
the orlando magics
but for some reason i dont think the suns would want nelson when they have dragich
but to asnwer your question the value of nash right now would be high on the magic . .just ask that question to some guy named Rashard Lewis ( open threes) or dwight howard ( ends on ally ops )
LMAO @ JACKMASTER
Yea because adding Nash to either MIA or ORL WON’T make them a better team. It’ll make them much, much worse. You just showed everyone you know VERY little, IF ANYTHING, about the NBA. Nice job.
NASH TO L.A..
@ jackmaster:
I agree with you in one thing: no one expects the Suns to do what they did last season. LMAO.
I like Nash and everything, but he is not, and has never neen in a class like Chris Paul. Nash is one of the best ever at running a high tempo offense, but he has never been the type to put a team on his back and carry them through a game, let alone a playoff series. Paul, Williams, Rondo, Westbrook and maybe even Wall are a level above Nash, and im talking about the MVP version of Nash
Why Dont the Pheonix suns try and Aquire Antwan Jamison. I mean he would fit perfect in the suns offense . The Cavaliers are obviously Shopping him . And A Turkoglu for Jamison Trade would be a perfect fit for both teams. The Cavaliers need a playmaker Like Tukoglu And the Suns are in desperate need for a Powerforward . Jamison would flourish in the suns offense. And Turkoglu would be able to play with the ball 90 percent of the time in cleveland. They should also try and aquire carmello. Its Kind of a longshot buts it worth a try. Throw in a couple of first round picks. Goran Gragic , And some other Younq assests
because jaimson alone would not be enough for a title…no way carmelo is going to phoenix they cant afford him with contracts they gave to warrick and childress
Anyone who watched the Nashless Suns get spanked badly in Orlando will realize just how important Nash is to them. They looked almost clueless, and I can’t really imagine the Suns fans filling the seats to see that every night. Nash is certainly the engine that makes that offence run. For certain it has much to do with his basketball I.Q., not just everything else he brings to the table. I am of the thinking that Nash would have the same effect anywhere he went on any team he plays with. To cement that point, just take a look at former players who no longer have Nash setting them up. I can’t think of one doing anything really close to their Nash-fed numbers. How much of it is the system and how much of it is Nash, though?
A few problems exist before any deal goes ahead. For starters, Nash will probably want his buddy Grant Hill along for the ride. I don’t think Nash will ask for a trade, but if he does, for sure he’ll want the team to take the PR hit for his leaving. A team won’t get Nash for nothing. How much do you give up for a 36 years young man that feels 40 is the age he imagines he can play to at a high level? Lastly, Alvin Gentry may try to hide in Nash’s luggage when he flys to his new destination.
I would love to see Nash get a ring, as many others have said, as well. I don’t think it would define him, though. Ring or no ring, Nash will always be the guy who I looked forward to watching on TV. He made the game fun to watch, there is no question about that. As for possible destinations, I often wonder if Nash wouldn’t want to go to Toronto? Probably no ring coming there, but 20 million Canadians would buy Raptor jerseys with his name and number on them. [I leave 15 million Canadians as pure hockey fans.] The Heat would probably do well to have Nash running the offence. By the second half he’d probably have free reign to drop three-point bombs at a 45% clip, so collapsed the defence would be by that point from all the pinpoint passing, drives, pick and rolls and other nashty tactics the Heat would employ. Orlando, Atlanta, there are a few great places Nash could end up if the price were right.
On a final note, can you imagine any NBA player who desires their own ring not wanting Nash by their side? He closes out the Spurs with one eye swollen shut after a Tim Duncan elbow and some stitches, then resets his own broken nose on the way to the foul line to shoot some free throws after a Derek Fisher head-butt against the Lakers. The guy wants to win… badly.
Possible trade situations for Phoenix:
Phoenix + Danillo Ganlinari/Wilson Chandler; Raymond Felton; Roger Mason
New York + Steve Nash; Hedo Turkologu/Jared Dudley/Grant Hill
Phoenix + Jameer Nelson; Ryan Anderson; Malik Allen
Orlando + Steve Nash; Earl Barron
Phoenix + Mario Chalmers; Joel Anthony; Jerry Stackhouse
Miami + Steve Nash; Earl Barron
Phoenix + Shawn Marion/Bredan Haywood; Jason Kidd; Alexis Ajinca
Dallas + Steve Nash; Hedo Turkolugo/Jared Dudley/Grant Hill
Phoenix + C.J Watson; Kurt Thomas; Keith Bogans/Kyle Korver
Chicago + Steve Nash; Grant Hill/Jared Dudley
Phoenix + Eric Maynor; Jeff Green/James Harden; Daequan Cook;
Oklahoma City + Steve Nash; Grant Hill/Hedo Turkolugo
If the Suns can find a player like Stevie N than keep him until then.