Decision Time for Nash

The NBA free agency frenzy begins on July 1^st.  Veteran point guard and two time league MVP, Steve Nash, is the most intriguing name that could possibly be on the move.  

As a free agent during the summer of 2004, Nash wasted no time in departing from the Dallas Mavericks to the Phoenix Suns.  Nash has spent the last eight seasons with the Suns. He enjoyed three Western Conference Finals appearances and two 60 plus game winning seasons.  However, despite all of the success in Phoenix, Nash and the Suns fell short of winning a championship. 

At age 38, Nash averaged 10.7 assist per game last season; finishing only second behind Boston Celtics point guard, Rajon Rondo.  He has stated that he wants to play at least three more years and after his performance this past season, he has earned that right.

Here is where it gets interesting with Nash.  Will he select a team solely based on the opportunity to win a championship or will he go to a club that has young talented players and can offer him a lot more money over the next three seasons?

The championship contenders that have shown interest in Nash’s services at point guard are the Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat, and the New York Knicks.  The Mavericks and Heat are legit title contenders heading into the 2012-2013 season.  The Knicks have work to do, but the addition of Nash could vault them up to becoming a championship challenger.

The possibility of winning a championship won’t be the only thing Nash considers when choosing his next team.  In a recent interview with ESPN's, Marc Stein, Nash seems to be approaching this situation with transparency; "It's just a different free agency for me and I have to be open-minded to everything." 

It appears that money will be a major factor in Nash’s decision going forward; as it was in 2004.

Teams that have young talent and can offer Nash plenty of money are the Toronto Raptors and Portland Trail Blazers.  Out of these two teams, the Blazers make the most sense; a.) they could use a proven point guard to help mentor their newest draft pick, Damian Lillard, b.) They have the cap space to make him an enticing offer, c.) Portland is the closest city in the league to his hometown of Vancouver and d.) with the addition of Nash, the Blazers could become a legit championship contender in the next two years.

The Raptors can offer money as well and bring Nash home to his home country of Canada, but they will be competing for playoff spots and not a championship over his three year contract there.

Staying in Phoenix is another possible scenario, but very unlikely to happen.  Nash has made it clear that if the Suns don’t add star pieces around him, then he will be gone come July.  Plus, Nash just isn’t feeling the love from the Suns anymore.  He told ESPN’s, Marc Stein, in the same interview, "I don't necessarily feel like they're determined to keep me. I think there's a lot of factors. So, one, I'm not sure they're determined to keep me, (and) two, there's other opportunities that are exciting.”  Nash did go on to say that he wants to play somewhere where he can be happy.  Clearly, Phoenix might not be that place anymore for him.

Look for Nash to make a quick decision early in free agency.  No matter what he decides to do, the choice he makes will be what he feels is the most right for him.