According to David Aldridge of TNT, a Pacific Division foe has entered the fray:

As Raptors, Knicks & Mavs-fight 4 Steve Nash, the Lakers have also quietly entered the picture & are making a hard push, per league source.

— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 4, 2012

The most talked-about offer for Nash has been the one pushed forth by the Toronto Raptors -- a 3-year deal worth around $36 million.

The New York Knicks are still reportedly concocting ways to add Nash despite their salary cap challenges. The Dallas Mavericks are also now a player as Deron Williams shunned Mark Cuban and company to re-sign with the Brooklyn Nets.

And now, add the Lakers, who have an opening at the point guard position. Derek Fisher was let go by the Lakers at the tail end of the 2011-12 regular season before he hooked on with Oklahoma City, and Ramon Sessions is an unrestricted free agent. That leaves only veteran backup Steve Blake on the roster.

Last month, Nash was a guest of Stephen A. Smith and Ryan Ruocco on ESPN Radio 98.7 in New York and spoke openly about all aspects of his impending free agency, including what teams he'd have a hard time representing.

"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."

The rivalry between the Suns and Lakers is of the two-way variety, according to comments Kobe Bryant made last January after torching Phoenix for 48 points.

"I don't like (the Suns), plain and simple," Bryant said. "They used to whoop us pretty good and let us know about it, and I will not forget that ... I won't let it go."

Since Kobe and Nash butted heads as division rivals for eight seasons, one could surmise that the rivalry was indeed between them. Whether those differences could be worked out remains to be seen, but at least one report has Nash in Forum blue and gold being a possibility.