Over the last two seasons there have been many calling for the team to trade Steve Nash, parting with the two-time MVP while they could still get something of value in return. To their credit (or detriment), they refused.

Instead, the Suns maintained that they wanted to give fans a chance to watch one of the game's greatest point guards continue to play at a high level. Sure, they missed the playoffs both seasons, but Nash was still Nash and the games were more entertaining with him on the court.

In truth, while that may have played a part in the team's reluctance to make a deal, the real reason they didn't make a move is because they were afraid of being looked at as the bad guys, of being the group that traded Steve Nash.

Hell, Ken Kendrick still gets flak for how things were handled with Luis Gonzalez, and that was absolutely the right move to make.

The Suns almost pulled it off, too.

Bryan Colangelo, who convinced Nash to leave Dallas for Phoenix some eight years ago, presented the 38-year-old with an offer he can't -- or, at least, shouldn't -- refuse.

Three years, $36 million.

Wow.

For that price the Suns would be foolish to get involved. After all, they're clearly rebuilding, just drafted Nash's replacement and, for all intents and purposes, should move on. And, lucky for them, another team stepped up and made an offer that no one would blame Nash for taking, and no one would be upset with the Suns for not matching.

The Suns almost pulled it off, too.

Unfortunately for the Suns, the parameters of their offer to Nash leaked Monday.

Suns Update:Trusted source informs me that Phx Suns offer to Steve Nash currently stands at = 2 years, $12 million.

— Paul Calvisi (@PaulCalvisi) July 2, 2012

Two years, $12 million. Or, put another way, $6 million per year.

Or, in other words, less than what Josh Childress makes. The offer is as offensive as it is ridiculous. It's ridiculously offensive.

Steve Nash may have been willing to give the Suns some sort of discount, but there is no way he takes a 50 percent paycut to play for a team that is closer to the top five of the draft than it is the top five of the NBA.

Nash made roughly $11.5 million for his work last season, a year where the team struggled but he did not. The veteran averaged 12.5 points and 10.7 assists per game, while shooting .532 from the field and .390 from three-point range.

In other words, while Nash may have lost a step or two, the game has not yet passed him by. The Suns have to know this, and while they may be finally ready to cut ties and move on, but still, why the low-ball offer?

It appears the Suns, while saying they wanted to keep Nash, never really had any intention of doing so. That, or they seriously misjudged the market for the point guard, and are unwilling to adjust. This would not be the first time the Suns have low-balled key members of the organization (Steve Kerr says hi, by the way), though it is arguably the most shocking.

All along it seemed as though the Suns' plan was to come out looking like the good guys. Or, at least, looking as good as possible when the franchise has gone from perennial contender to lottery stalwart within a span of just a few years.

Nash was going to leave, they were going to move on, fans would be understanding and no one would be upset.

The Suns almost pulled it off, too.