No longer run-and-gun, Suns seem content to keep Nash and just run in place

By Adam Green/Arizona Sports
Published: February 02, 2012 @ 3:18pm
The thought came to me about as quickly as the Suns went from Western Conference finalist to lottery team.

Two questions come from this.

One, what kind of writer uses their own tweet as the basis for a column? And two, what kind of fan actually wants their favorite team to lose games?

Well, as far as question number one is concerned, I have no comment. But when it comes to question two, though, I'll say one who really, truly cares about the team.

As of right now the Phoenix Suns are 8-13, which is good enough for 12th-best in the Western Conference, and 9th-worst in the NBA. That's the area known as "NBA purgatory," a state where a team is not good enough to contend nor bad enough to get one of the top picks in the upcoming draft.

And they seem content to not only stay there for now, but actually extend their lease a couple more years.

According to a report on HoopsWorld.com, the Suns not only have little interest in trading Steve Nash before the March 15 deadline, but would actually like to re-sign the veteran for a couple more seasons after this one.

Whether or not Nash would like to spend the twilight of his career playing for a team striving for .500 is one thing, but the idea that the Suns would like to bring him back - even as good as he still is - is rather mystifying.

It's weird, because nobody really wants Steve Nash to go. He's won plenty of games, a pair of MVP awards, and numerous fans across the Valley. Hell, he's one of the most popular players in the world! Nash has done it all while wearing purple and orange, being the best ambassador a team could ever hope to have.

And, he can still play, as evidenced by his 30-point, 10 assist performance in Wednesday's win over the Hornets, one that saw him become the franchise's leader in assists.

Ultimately, though, this isn't even about Nash. Sure, there is probably a strong contingent of "Nash fans," people who care more about the player than the team. You know, the fans who say they'll never watch another one of the team's games if he's traded. Well, attendance at US Airways Center has not exactly been great this season, so people aren't really watching games even with Nash still around.

But I digress.

The Suns may not be able to trade Nash before the end of the season simply because they may never get an offer they deem worthy of pulling the trigger on. While the merits of just trading him with an eye on tanking the season can be debated ad nausea, it would be tough to just throw in the towel on the season, especially with competitors like Grant Hill, Marcin Gortat and Jared Dudley in that locker room.

That's fine.

As Suns fans, we know how great Steve Nash has been. As Suns fans, we know how good Steve Nash still is. But, as Suns fans, we also know the next time the team contends will be without Nash on the roster.

As Suns fans, we know it's time for the team to move on, finally bottoming out. Whether it's this season or this summer, the move must be made, because only then will they be able to start the climb back up.

Adam Green is a columnist for ArizonaSports.com. He can be reached with your questions and comments by e-mail here, you can follow him on Twitter @theAdamGreen, or you can be friends with him on Facebook. All of Adam Green's past columns.

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  • Tanking a season - just plain lame!
    azgbayfan (February 2, 2012 9:53 pm)
    I can't imagine the benefit of tanking a season. If I was a season ticket holder I would never come back if the Suns did that. Tank a season so that you get a better draft pick which is "no guarantee" that takes a couple of years before they are ready. Meanwhile you have Dudley, Childress, Frye, Warrick, Morris, and Gortat who are now used to losing. Losing breeds losing! Sounds like a template the Clippers, Warriors, Kings, Bobcats, and others have been using
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  • I get the Nash Extension
    azgbayfan (February 2, 2012 10:04 pm)
    In case you haven't looked the 2012 free agent class doesn't look all that rosy anymore. Think you are going to get Howard or Williams? Think again! You might get a guy like Gordon or Mayo, but there is going to be plenty of competiton for them. The Suns are in a tight spot and there is no easy way out. Meanwhile you want the fans to support the team while you tank the season and give Nash the boot for nothing in return. I don't know who made you the expert, but maybe you should buy the tickets. You are the one who wants this
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  • What was it called in San Antonio
    hugUhbear (February 2, 2012 10:45 pm)
    when they tanked it to get Tim Duncan. I remember a lot of people in the talking basketball business talking about that as it went along. Pop was coach then, David Robinson and Sean Elliott on that team as well. SA is super competetive but they did tank that season and it paid off with multiple championships. Granted they knew as everyone did that Duncan was declaring andthat he was a generational player. They still tanked it though.
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  • About losing...
    theAdamGreen (February 2, 2012 10:45 pm)
    If you are worried that the Suns could create a culture of losing then, I'm sorry to say, it's going to happen whether they tank or not. In case you haven't noticed, this team is losing a lot of games right now. And, as for asking fans to support the team, that's not my job and the crowds at US Airways Center say support is waning anyway.
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  • Who has tanked it and made it work?
    azgbayfan (February 2, 2012 11:06 pm)
    All I want is an example of who has made that work. The Spurs is a bad example. Robinson played only 6 games that year and the Spurs were the third worst team and got lucky in the lottery. That was beating very long odds. Even though this is considered a very good draft, there is no one there considered as good a prospect as Tim Duncan was. The draft is a total crap shoot. If Portland had taken Durant instead of Oden OKC would still suck and Portland would be loaded and ask Portland how Sam Bowie worked out over Michael Jordan.
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  • Trade nash
    esc R. (February 3, 2012 8:10 am)
    Keeping him does not help this teams rebuilding process at all. The fact is, great players come through the draft. Yes, its a risk, but one that every team takes. Some teams strike it big, others loose out. No matter what, this team is going to be bad for a long time if we keep nash or trade him. I believe the process will speed up if you start rebuilding now.
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  • @ azgbayfan
    theAdamGreen (February 3, 2012 8:12 am)
    There is no guarantee tanking will work, but how else will the Suns acquire the necessary talent to compete? PHX isn't NY, Chicago or LA -- free agents aren't coming, and they don't have any good, young assets to trade. The rebuilding process could be slow and painful, but re-signing Nash only delays the inevitable.
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  • azgbayfan
    esc R. (February 3, 2012 8:12 am)
    Portland still has been one of the better teams in the west. they built through the draft and gained assets to make smart moves. they have had bad luck with injuries with Roy and Oden. At the time, great players to take, but its just bad luck. Point is, you build through great drafts, not crap shoot drafts. This year and next years drafts are really good with a lot of potential. I personally would take that risk over a guy that is slowing down, and career is almost over. Wake up Sarver lovers and see reality.
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  • Agree Green
    esc R. (February 3, 2012 8:23 am)
    Build through the draft, but you also need luck and smarts on your side in rebuilding a team. Keep the same mentality and same old product on the court, you're like Kodak film who thinks they can stay with film instead of going digital. You will get left in the dust which the suns are doing. But look at teams that have solid players and build through the draft. Yes, you have to make moves and sign FA's, but through the draft and having young assets are enticing to teams. Look at the teams that have landed top players over the years.
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  • Cont. agree Green
    esc R. (February 3, 2012 8:26 am)
    ......clippers, Bulls, Orlando, NY (in the past) Boston, Lakers, Houston, Dallas, SA, OKC, Indy, Philly, Cavs, heat and so forth. You can name almost every team that has drafted a great and won or were competitive outside of the suns organization. Drafts is where it starts and then you build off of that with trades, FA signings and smart moves that pay off. Its time for the suns to hit rock bottom and start over. But then again, I know suns fans would rather not be the worst and settle for mediocrity. That's our franchise history and motto.
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