ESPN analyst: ‘I don’t understand what Phoenix is doing’
Jul 5, 2012, 9:06 PM | Updated: 10:42 pm
The Phoenix Suns agreeing to send Steve Nash to Los
Angeles
via a sign-and-trade with the Lakers has been met with
shock, anger and plenty of questions.
One such question is, simply, why?
ESPN NBA analyst Jon Barry is asking that question, though
it’s why the Suns would make the deal they did. After all,
it’s obvious why Nash would want to play for the Lakers.
“I don’t understand what Phoenix is doing,” Barry told
Arizona Sports 620’s Doug and Wolf.
Barry said Nash’s value is greater to a team like the
Lakers than it is to the Suns now, so he’s fine with the
team deciding to part with the future Hall of Famer.
In exchange for Nash the Suns will receive two first round
picks, two second round picks and cash. That doesn’t
strike most as proper compensation for a two-time league
MVP who, while 38 years old, is still a very effective
player.
“It doesn’t make any sense to me for the Suns,” Barry
said. “You’re talking about getting first round picks in a
couple years that are always going to be in the
20s…which is very difficult to build a team, picking in
the 20s.”
Barry said he isn’t sure the Suns are at all improved, and
sending the face of the franchise to a division rival
without getting better doesn’t make much sense.
