Suns’ Babby says team really could not move forward with Nash

Suns president of basketball operations Lon Babby said the
goal is for the team to be an elite
team, one that is going to compete for championships on an
annual basis.

Part of that, he said, is recognizing what kind of place
the franchise is in.

“I think in the two years that we’ve been here we’ve come
to the realization that the
wonderful era of Steve Nash and ‘:07 or Less’ was running
its course, and that we needed to find
a way to get younger and more athletic and more balanced.”

So, after a considerable amount of post-season
conversations with Nash — Babby said he spent
10-15 hours with the point guard — and the decision was
made that it was time for both
parties to go their separate ways.

“I think both sides approached those meetings with the
highest level of good faith and
integrity, and our relationship with Steve has never
deviated from that one iota,” Babby said.

However, their relationship with Nash officially ended
Wednesday, as the 38-year-old was
introduced as the newest member of the Los Angeles Lakers.

The decision to send Nash to their Pacific Division rivals
in exchange for four draft picks
and cash was not easy one, but as Babby said, it became
clear to the Suns that a decision like
this had to be made.

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