Steve Nash would solve a lot of problems for the Toronto Raptors. A pricy team without an identity heading into a deeply funky economic times?
Rolling Steve Nash into your lineup would instantly generate buzz where there is little now.
Concerned that if you do sign Shawn Marion this summer – let's just say it's for three years and $30-million – can year really get maximum value out of him?
Teaming him back up with Nash might do it, given that Marion's worst line in three full seasons with Captain Canada was 17.5 points, 9.8 rebounds and two steals on 52.4 per cent shooting.
Wondering how to elevate the games of Andrea Bargnani, Chris Bosh and Shawn Marion all at once?
Steve Nash has proven a point guard tide capable of raising all boats.
If you're Bryan Colangelo and you need to create a prospects for improvement right now in order to restore some shine to the genius label?
Steve Nash lifted the Suns from 29-53 to 62-20 in the space of one season.
Need to create an environment where Jay Triano – the cheapest option cost-conscious MLSE could turn to as a medium or long-term coach – has the best chance of thriving?
How about team him up with the one NBA player who believes in him more deeply than any other?
Those are some pretty good reasons to make a play for Captain Canada. Another is that if you make the move this summer instead of the summer of 2010 you get him a year younger, though still at age 35.
Can it happen? Having spent a week in Phoenix around the all-star break and getting a full dose of exactly how dysfunctional things are with that franchise from the ownership down, I think anything is possible.
As I wrote in my story today, his deal for 2009-10 is a team option with roughly $7-million guaranteed to Nash whether the Suns pick up the full tab of $13.1-million, so yes, the option will be picked up rather than the Suns let him walk away and still have to pay $7-million.
And yes the Suns declared Nash untouchable before the trade deadline, but what does that mean, really?
What it really comes down to is: Will the Suns be able to offer Nash an extension that is worth him forgoing free agency and remaining in sunny Phoenix, working for an ownership structure that has put money before winning as Nash told ESPN.com yesterday?
"It's the way it is," Steve Nash said. "It's been a common theme my 4½ years here. But we knew that going in, that that was the financial model for the ownership group.
"It's not obviously the best formula for winning, but it's understandable."
(Hey just wait until Nash gets a load of MLSE!)
Anyway, if the Suns and Nash can't come to terms on an extension, can he force a trade on the basis that he's going to leave as a free agent anyway in the summer of 2010?
In Jose Calderon the Raptors have the major piece the Suns would be looking for in return: A top point guard who can fill that position for Phoenix for the future, and likely for less money than Nash would want.
Is that a good move for the Raptors to make? Maybe not if you believe that what this franchise needs right now is a long horizon, not a short one. If not -- and taking the long view hasn't been a habit in Raptorland lately -- it's definitely worth trying to make it happen.
