That remains to be seen, but we do know that in six days several other NBA teams will allowed to court Phoenix's favorite Sun. The league's free agency period will start next Sunday at 9:00 p.m. PST, and Nash's phone will begin ringing shortly after that time.

The two-time league MVP appeared on ESPN Radio 98.7 in New York City with hosts Stephen A. Smith and Ryan Ruocco, and answered many questions about his future in the league.

First on the list, not surprisingly, were the factors that Nash will consider when making a decision and whether or not there's a pecking order of importance for those ingredients.

"I have to consider all those different factors: financial, family, environment, ability to win," he said. "No one factor really goes above any other, it's all of those put together that is going to make a decision."

People assume a great player who's pushing forty years of age and doesn't have a ring would automatically elevate the pursuit of a championship to the top of the list of factors, but Nash isn't willing to discount all other potential reasons.

"I think it's nice to have that idea that I want to win a championship at all costs, but that's also difficult. For example, you could turn down a ton of money to go to a team you think could win a championship and there's an injury or the chemistry isn't right and you get traded in six months," Nash explained. "I think you have to be really careful in trying to make a sound decision that incorporates a little more. I've got to put all those things into the hat and try to figure out and reconcile all the factors that will make me happy, and hopefully that will be with a team that has a chance to win, but there's a lot of factors involved."

How about money? Some teams will come after Nash with offers in the neighborhood of $10 million per season, while other, more cash-strapped franchises may be able to pony up about a third of that. Nash discussed the importance of getting paid as well.

"I definitely feel like I'd like to be validated monetarily to an extent. Maybe not the same extent, but it's important, I think. In our business, I think money, in many ways, represents respect."

Of course with the interview originating from a New York station, a lot of the talk centered around Nash's thoughts about the Knicks, and whether the fact that former Suns head coach Mike D'Antoni was fired last season would detract him from considering the Big Apple.

"Everyone knows I love Mike and we had some good years together and so it would have been another factor in everything, but what's in the past is in the past," Nash said. "When Sunday comes around, I'm going to have to look at everything with fresh new eyes and see what the best situation is for me."

Then, there's the lurking scenario of Nash signing on with a team like the Miami Heat or Los Angeles Lakers, who have been usual suspects on the list of potential suitors.

Nash had an interesting take on those possibilities.

"The truth is, I'm a little bit old school. It would be hard to put on a Lakers jersey. That's just what it is. You play against them so many times in the playoffs, and I just use them as an example -- I have the utmost respect for them and the organization," he said. "I think it was Larry Bird, he wouldn't have played for them. I kind of have that tendency, so it is strange. As a free agent, you're free to go wherever you want. I have to consider everything regardless of the past or the future. You have to evaluate in that moment."

Nash's next employer could be determined in the next week, but until then, the speculation will fly. The eight-time All-Star truly sounds like someone who is genuinely excited at the prospects of free agency.