Nash to Lakers

[King Taharqa]

In an unforeseen twist that could thrust the Los Angeles Lakers straight back into title contention, two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash has successfully negotiated a sign-and-trade deal from the Phoenix Suns to the Los Angeles Lakers that will team him up with Kobe Bryant, according to sources with knowledge of the deal.

Sources told ESPN.com that the Nash, with the New York Knicks also pressing hard to complete a simiilar sign-and-trade deal, was swayed to join the Lakers after a determined push from Bryant and because the move not only keeps him in the title hunt but will allow Nash to stay in close proximity to his three children in Phoenix.

Nash will receive a three-year deal in excess of $25 million, sources said, because the Suns ultimately agreed to sign-and-trade him to the Lakers, who can absorb Nash via the trade exception they created by dealing Lamar Odom to the Dallas Mavericks in December.

The deal can't be officially completed until July 11, when a leaguewide moratorium on new business is lifted, but the Suns will receive a package of future draft picks after initially rebuffing Nash's requests to be traded to the Suns' divisional rivals.

The Lakers are no longer trying to retain point guard Ramon Sessions, who opted out of the final year and $4.55 million of his contract to become a free agent, a source told ESPNLosAngeles.com's Ramona Shelburne.

Sessions was hoping for the security of a longer term contract, but while discussions with the Lakers were positive, they never progressed toward a multiyear deal, the source told Shelburne.

Difficult as it is on some levels for the Suns to help the face of the franchise get to the Lakers -- especially after years of playoff battles with the Lakers in the Nash Era -- sources say Suns owner Robert Sarver finally agreed to the trade after yielding to a plea from Nash to send him to a destination where he could maintain the closest possible ties to his children and still chase the ring that has eluded him for 16 seasons.

The Lakers clinched the deal by surrendering the package of picks, but sources said that the Suns did decide to reward Nash for all the success he delivered over the past eight seasons.

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8130840/sources-steve-nash-headed-los-angeles-lakers-sign-trade-deal

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Great pick-up by the Lakers, they stole him right away from the Knicks

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8130840/sources-steve-nash-headed-los-angeles-lakers-sign-trade-deal

[C47]

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

[SOJA]

This makes the Lakers the second best team in the West, if they trade Bynum for Howard they become the best.

[God]

if they swap bynum for howard OKC vs LA will be amazing.

[Panthers128]

Pointless move. Kobe handles the ball too often. There's no need to have a great point guard on the Lakers. Nick Van Exel could not play with Kobe (nor could anyone else who expected to handle the ball in the back court).

[God]

the thought of nash guarding westbrook is making me lol

[TylerDurden]

SMH... I hate the Bryant' era Lakers. I respect his game but will never be a fan... Eh, but it'll be hard not to root for Nash to win one before it's over.

[C47]

Pointless move. Kobe handles the ball too often. There's no need to have a great point guard on the Lakers. Nick Van Exel could not play with Kobe (nor could anyone else who expected to handle the ball in the back court).

Kobe recruited him, I think this is Kobe saying whatever it takes to get number six is what I'm going to do. Nash will make everyone on the roster better with his ability to set people up in position to make plays. Looking forward to seeing him in purple & gold. I do think this makes it more likely that the Lakers deal for Howard. Gasol will benefit greatly in the pick n roll with Nash, the Lakers would benefit greatly from having a big who can run the floor for easy fast break buckets (Howard). Not to mention if Grant Hill ends up signing, and you bring in Jason Richardson with Howard, and get Rashard Lewis to sign for the vet min you have a very solid starting five of Nash/Kobe/MWP/Pau/D12, with a bench that features Richardson/Lewis/Grant Hill/Goudelock (who should improve in his second season)/and hopefully Jordan Hill....

[X-Clown]

The lakers can't afford Howard at this point.

[Chaos]

And the old get older.

[C47]

The lakers can't afford Howard at this point.

The Lakers never could afford Howard, if he was coming it was going to be because Andrew Bynum was leaving. They will pay taxes if they think it can win them another 1-2 titles before Kobe/Nash retire. A trade for Howard would probably look a little something like this

http://espn.go.com/n...tradeId=87bx6n7

Then you fill out the roster with vet min signings like Grant Hill, and Rashard Lewis. The only big concern is can you keep Jordan Hill, or can you replace his scrappy play off the bench with another FA? AARP might need to relocate to the Staples Center, but that would be a damn solid team....

[C47]

And the old get older.

And a whole hell of a lot better to....Nash may be 38, but he's still playing close to his MVP level....

[GotSwag?]

Lakers are adding an MVP type PG. Nash will make those bigs play at an all star level. Sure it will be interesting to see how Kobe responds but this isnt the same young Kobe. He wants rings and he was probably the #1 person wanting Nash.