Steve Nash to the Lakers a possibility

The plot has thickened in terms of suitors for the
services of free agent point guard and two-time MVP Steve
Nash.

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.

Follow @Vincemarotta