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I have yet to cultivate one defining thought about the bombshell that Gambo dropped on the Valley yesterday afternoon.

In the hours since the news of Steve Nash to the Los Angeles Lakers (and oh by the way here's a Darren Rovell twitpic to really turn your stomach), I haven't been able to hold a thought in my head without it being replaced by another, and another, and another. It's like trying to catch a mouse that has snuck into your house. Every time I think I have it cornered it slips away.

So instead of one thought, I'll give you a stream-of- consciousness-type column that hopefully by the end, will have produced a clear what-do-I-think epiphany of the biggest story of the decade.

I am at The Amazing Spider Man when I see the tweet. That completely unnecessary reboot (Emma Stone is awfully pretty though) will always be associated with THE DAY THE SUNS TRADED STEVE NASH TO THE LAKERS. My co-host broke the news, but I when tell my 14-year-old son about it I add "I sure hope he's wrong." To which the wise young man reminds me it was bad for the show if Gambo was wrong. I respond by saying today I didn't care.

Once it was clear Gambo was right, I am literally queasy. The medium popcorn and dollar refill of Coke is churning. It was shock. Anxiety. Disbelief.

I read today that, according to Nash's agent, Nash briefly contemplated retiring from the NBA. As I walked out of the Harkins San Tan, I briefly contemplate renouncing my citizenship from Planet Orange, like some kind of a Cuban defector ("I seek political asylum with the Oklahoma City Thunder").

I try to focus my emotions. Who am I upset at? Nash for wanting this? Or the Suns for enabling it?

I thought about those words that brought me comfort a week ago: "I think it would be hard to put on a Lakers jersey." When Nash said that to an ESPN radio station in New York, it brought peace. I feel lied to. Flat out, straight up lied to.

But wait. It takes two. How could the Suns do this to Suns fans? How could they have so little knowledge or interest in just how much WE HATE THE LAKERS? I thought of the old radio adage; know your audience. Clearly, I thought, the law firm of Sarver, Babby and Blanks doesn't know theirs.

Keep in mind, this was all before I left the parking lot. Deep breath. Take the emotion out of it. Think rationally. Take the information that was given, cover the word "Lakers" with my thumb, and evaluate the move……ok, heart rate slowing down. Telling myself at least they got something for him. Somebody tweeted me and suggested that the picks could be used as part of a deal to the Hornets as part of a sign and trade for Eric Gordon. Ok, that's good too. I feel normalcy envelop me.

Then I remember that sports is emotion. Take the emotion out of it? I'm not a friggin' robot. I remember what I told Jon Bloom after the Suns drafted Kendall Marshall; when it comes to the Suns, I'm irrational. I don't run and hide from that.

No -- the angel on my right shoulder whispers in my ear -- sports is a business and all that happened today was a business transaction. Then another tweeter reminds me that sports are merely entertainment, like the movies, and with Nash in L.A. I've got another reason to loathe that team. The badder the bad guy, the better the story (it's the reason why Die Hard is one of the best action flicks ever).

Then the devil on my left shoulder chimes in by coming up with the analogy that, in a sports sense, my wife just left me for my best friend. Or even worse, my most-hated business rival. I can feel myself falling into an abyss. Now I've got so many thoughts swirling around that I have to ask my wife to drive to the D-backs game so I can think. And tweet.

I think about the Suns and wonder if four picks and three million bucks are worth alienating half of your fan base. And really, let's be honest about the value of those picks. Second round picks in the NBA remind me of signs that you see that read "Dirt for sale." Late first round picks are nothing more than putting all your money on one number at a roulette table. Did the Suns really get anything for Nash?

A friend compares the deal to the day the team traded Dennis Johnson for Rick Robey. I cried that day, have I ever told you that? I think of the day Charles Barkley did a nationally televised interview with NBC (halftime of Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Sonics and Bulls) all but demanding he be traded from the Suns. I start comparing those three kicks to the midsection to judge which hurt the worse.

I think that given his love of filmmaking both in front of and behind the camera, I think that L.A. is a perfect place for Nash. And besides, what NBA player doesn't want to play for the Lakers?

I go to bed mad as hell.

I woke up with new perspective and new information.

Nash, we found out, was desperate to stay close to his family. He's only an hour away, his agent says. That, while playing on a contender, means everything to him. Reading Nash's statement and the gratitude he expresses to Robert Sarver ("couldn't be more grateful" and "says a lot about his character") and I feel my stance softening.

In addition to signing Gordon to the big offer sheet (smelling sign and trade with Hornets), the Suns have added Michael Beasley and Goran Dragic. They're going to be interesting next year (I didn't say good, I said interesting).

Then I think about my own hypocrisy. I've been upset with the Suns for years for not dealing Nash sooner in the name of getting something for him sooner. I'm going to complain now that they did what I wanted them to do all along? That seems a little unfair. Then I think about Sarver and his reputation, not among the fans but among the players of the NBA. That rep took a hit during the lockout. Did he just get some cred back for acquiescing to Nash's wish? ("Hey, everything you heard about me was untrue…did you see what I did for Nash?") If they can walk away with Eric Gordon, I'll be impressed. Maybe even pleased.

I'm about to get in the car and drive to the station and I'm sure five more thoughts will pop into my head.

How do I feel about Nash to the Lakers? You didn't expect an answer did you?

17 Comments   |   Join the conversation »
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    mesa mad man wrote...
    Absurd
    I think the reaction this whole offseason has recieved has been absurd. Sarver in my eyes is an owner that loves sports and has all the enthusiasm in the world. That said, he doesnt have the brain of a GM, he has that of a fan and this has given him an unfairly bad wrap. Sure, hes made some bad decisions, but hes made some good ones too. Its a learning curve. People will always remember the day Nash left - its the end of an era. But fans will move on once the season starts, and if the team is competitive, they will be right back on the bandwagon.
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    mtj8nau wrote...
    Nash is a liar...
    If Nash was so concerned about being close to his kids why does he live in NYC in the summer? Why didn't he inquire with any other West Coast Teams (Jazz, Nuggets, Clips, Warriors, Kings, Blazers, shoot-lets throw Texas and OKC in there)? To throw the "need to be close to my kids" excuse out there is as lame as it gets. No the truth is he wanted to play for a ring with the Lakers, he doesn't care that the Lakers are the Suns biggest rival, thus he doesn't really care about the Suns fans. Sports is a business. But don't buy the phoney excuse Nash brings up about his kids.
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    mesa mad man wrote...
    nash
    i dont claim to know anything about his personal life, and have no reason to want to, but it stands to reason that if nash is on "summer break" in new york, and his children could stay with him in new york for periods of time. i would think his concern is during the season when he is traveling non stop it would be hard to get out to phx to see them if he was playing in ny
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    kdaddy wrote...
    I felt the EXACT same way yesterday
    I can't believe this is happening. It's not easy to digest but after hearing about how he wants to be closer to his family and play for championship contender at the same time I can't say I blame him. I have many thoughts going on in my head but at this point there is nothing to do but keep moving forward. I hope we get Gordon. He would be a great pick up. If those draft picks are used in a sign and trade then this will be an easier pill to swallow. Go Suns and best of luck Steve. Thanks for the memories.
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    sundevil7901 wrote...
    I'm somwhere in between rational and emotional
    The rational side is ok with the Suns taking the high road, doing this last nice thing for Steve as a 'Thank you', and gettin something of value in return. The emotional side is angry at Nash for initiating the deal that sends him to play for the Suns' greatest enemy.It's over now, time to worry about what's best for the Suns franchise. Nash is dead to me.
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    Patrick Peterson's Talent wrote...
    David Charles
    Thank you for this piece. I believe it accurately captures the feelings of Valley fans. My entire family went quiet at dinner when we found out. Getting Dragic back helped ease the pain. Beasley is a good signing. Gordon would be incredible if we packaged the Lakers picks. I agree totally with mesa mad man on this one. I urged patience with this front office as people were bashing them before they even made a move! I'm impressed with how the organization handled Steve's request and the impression they left on Gordon. Give these guys some time. Good off season so far. Good luck Steve!
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    PRH wrote...
    Mesa Mad Man...
    Your opinion of Sarver is absurd. Completely. He has been an owner for 8 years, so please drop this "He's new, give him time BS." There's a reason most Suns fans and those in the media who follow this team for a living have little respect for what he has done to this franchise, and blame him for where they sit today. Yet somehow the majority opinion is absurd and you're the one being rational? 2 years ago the Suns were two wins away from being in the finals. Now, thanks to Sarver's decisions, every important piece of that team - from the front office to the floor - is gone.
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    redstick88 wrote...
    hope the best
    He needed to go we needed to build a younger squad. At least we got something out of it. Trust me when i say this I HATE THE LAKERS but who cares where he goes, he wants to go their then let him go. Goodbye i wish him luck, hope he wins one and now we can be relevant in the future. Keep working hard front office and get Gordon. Beasley good pick up dragic ok pick up. Gordon could be a our star.
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    siri wrote...
    Shrewd!
    Sarver, Babby, Blanks and Steve Nash in the same room??? I think it's an easy pic on who wins. Nash is a better PR man and maybe business man than any of them. Sarver gets no credit for a nice gesture...he gets credit for saving face. What's said a week or a month from now when Steve is walks away to whatever team and the Suns get nothing. Steve may have had to point that out to him. The last week of the season Steve was asked about possibly going to Miami and the follow up question was about family and he remarked that that was not a problem... "they can move".
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