Steve Nash is one of the best point guards to ever grace an NBA court, but his résumé will never be complete without a championship ring. He won’t be able to accomplish that goal as a member of the Phoenix Suns, which is why he must request a trade before this season’s deadline.
Nash will turn 38 next week, meaning his window to reach the NBA’s pinnacle is quickly slipping away. So he can’t afford to waste another season in Phoenix waiting to become a free agent. He needs to act now so he can be on a contender for this year’s playoffs.
Ken Berger of CBS Sports reports that the team would be willing to explore options should Nash say he wants to move on:
Despite the Suns’ struggles, Steve Nash has yet to express an interest in being traded, league sources said. But the organization will try to accommodate Nash’s wishes if the 37-year-old foundation of the franchise decides he’d like a chance to compete for a championship with a contender. “It’s really on him in terms of what he wants to do or not do,” a person with knowledge of the situation said.
Nash has no shortage of awards and honors to show he was a terrific player. He’s won the MVP Award twice and been named to seven All-Star teams. He’s one of just five players in league history to join the 50-40-90 Club, which represents the three major shooting percentages.
His best attitude is selflessness. He could have easily averaged more than 20 points per game during his prime seasons and maybe even competed for a scoring title, but he always deferred to his teammates, using his tremendous vision to become an elite passer.
All of those accomplishments will be dampened if he never wins a ring, however. Fair or not, when people look back on his career in the future, they will always bring up the lack of a title. That is, unless he gets out of Phoenix and wins on before calling it quits.
There isn’t a nicer guy in the league than Nash, so it would probably be tough on him to request a trade from a city that has treated him so well for nearly eight years. But the fans would understand.
One potential option is the New York Knicks. They have been waiting patiently for Baron Davis to recover from a back injury, but Nash would be a much better option. It would also give the team enough star power to compete with the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls in the playoffs.
The Knicks are likely just one of a several teams that would make inquiries about Nash. He might be getting old, but he’s still one of the best point guards in the league. His arrival would provide an immediate boost to any PG-needy team.
Requesting a trade is the best decision Nash could possibly make at this point in his career. After 16 years of giving, he’s earned the right to be selfish for once.
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