Coro: Steve Nash to the Knicks?
by Paul Coro - Nov. 22, 2008 07:17 PM
The Arizona Republic

This is The Republic's NBA Insider column for Sunday, Nov. 23.

Nineteen months. That is how long you can expect to hear speculation about Steve Nash winding up with the New York Knicks.
Nash already had an off-season home in New York, participated in Manhattan soccer leagues and has a love for a city that can foster his filmmaking and satisfy his cultural interests.

Then Mike D'Antoni, and the system that fit Nash, went to New York, leaving him grappling for a way to thrive with a new coach and in a new offense.

The latest fuel for the speculation came Friday, when the Knicks made two trades that cleared $27 million in salaries for 2010 free agency. It's not difficult to see that the Knicks could court several high-profile players, including Nash, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Dirk Nowitzki and Joe Johnson.

"It's fun for fans and media," said Nash, who said he wants to play two more seasons after his Suns contract expires in 2010. "As players, it's the most idiotic thing in the world to think about two years from now."

But teams are thinking about it. Nearly half of them, including the Suns, are posturing for a run at that free-agent class, which could include Suns forward Amaré Stoudemire if he opts out of his contract.

"Yeah, teams that aren't very good," Nash said. "Teams that are trying to get in the playoffs or teams that want to be in the playoffs or win a championship, they're not thinking about two years from now. Teams can protect their future and have a long-term outlook in the backs of their minds, a Phase 2, but they're still thinking about right now.

"Maybe it will be something to talk about in two years, but right now I've got my hands full trying to get us to a higher level."

Believe that. He had just left a chat about that subject with coach Terry Porter

D'Antoni formed an instant connection with Nash. His ties with other free-agents stars are looser, but they exist from his work as an Olympic assistant. James, Bosh and Wade have talked about playing together someday, and the Knicks could be $40 million below the salary cap in 2010 and pull a double-dip like Orlando did in 2000 when it signed Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill.

Tuesday will be interesting. James and Cleveland visit Madison Square Garden. The Cavaliers have the best shot to keep James, a native of Akron, Ohio, if they win a title or reach the NBA Finals by 2010.

James wants to be a global icon, and no city offers a platform like New York.

The Detroit Pistons also made a deal that led to King James theories, but there is a belief that Jazz forward Carlos Boozer is on the Pistons' minds. The Nets, with part-owner and James friend Jay-Z, figured to be a contender, but the delays in moving to Brooklyn weaken the case.

There is a cautionary tale that could quell the hysteria for star free agent in 2010. Shaquille O'Neal is the only player to win a title (four) after signing a maximum contract with a new team. Hey, he'll be available in 2010, too.

But Boston has created a new reality. A team's fortunes can flip in a hurry, although the Celtics did it by trading for Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.

"You can, in effect, do the same thing," Nash said. "That's probably why people talk about it."

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The only way I sign Nash is if he agrees to the minimum after we hopefully sign 2 mega free agents. Can you imagine Nash (as old as he would be, he would still be effective in D'Antoni's system. He would be our Stockton), Lebron/Wade/whatever guy, and Amare/Bosh/whatever guy in one offseason? That would be a DREAM.

Posted by VDesai:

Nash could be signed for the MLE- I think he'll agree to it as well as he'll be in his mid 30's. Not sure how much more he could get. I've seen him a couple times in the East Village. He LOVES NYC and makes no secret about it. And clearly he is at his best playing for D'Antoni.

I'd love to have him b/c he'd essentially be an extension of the coach out on the court.

Teams under the cap don't get a MLE and he'd be in his late 30's.

[Edited by - gkfv2 on 11-23-2008 9:05 PM]

Posted by VDesai:

Posted by GKFv2:

Posted by VDesai:

Nash could be signed for the MLE- I think he'll agree to it as well as he'll be in his mid 30's. Not sure how much more he could get. I've seen him a couple times in the East Village. He LOVES NYC and makes no secret about it. And clearly he is at his best playing for D'Antoni.

I'd love to have him b/c he'd essentially be an extension of the coach out on the court.

Teams under the cap don't get a MLE and he'd be in his late 30's.

[Edited by - gkfv2 on 11-23-2008 9:05 PM]

Wouldn't we get an MLE once we signed all the big ticket guys?

No. It's only granted to teams already over the cap at the start of the free agent signing period.

Posted by GKFv2:

Posted by VDesai:

Posted by GKFv2:

Posted by VDesai:

Nash could be signed for the MLE- I think he'll agree to it as well as he'll be in his mid 30's. Not sure how much more he could get. I've seen him a couple times in the East Village. He LOVES NYC and makes no secret about it. And clearly he is at his best playing for D'Antoni.

I'd love to have him b/c he'd essentially be an extension of the coach out on the court.

Teams under the cap don't get a MLE and he'd be in his late 30's.

[Edited by - gkfv2 on 11-23-2008 9:05 PM]

Wouldn't we get an MLE once we signed all the big ticket guys?

No. It's only granted to teams already over the cap at the start of the free agent signing period.

Interesting- we'll see if one of the FA's decides to sign for less than the max to facililate others coming here. But I think Nash is a case where he might take the minimum anyway to be in NYC and play for D'Antoni w/ Lebron or whomever.

Posted by TMS:

funny what a little cap space can do to the future outlook of your team, in'it?

Lets just hope we deliver.

If they can trade Curry/Jeffries I think they're more likely to try and figure out a way to re-up some combo of Nate/Lee/Duhon for continuities sake

I didn't realize we'd be so dangerous once we got under the cap. Man' these rumors are growing like wild fire. I love it though.

Maybe he can be our owner instead. bye dolan.

Wont he be like 40 in 2010, no thanks.

Nash has a salary of $12,250,000 for this year. Next year there is a team option for $13,125,000. Nash will be 35 1/2 at the beginning of next season. Suppose Phoenix doesn't pick up theoption due to age, they are over the cap, Nsh's style doesn't fit the new Phoenix style. Then we could sign Nash for the mid-level exemption for 5 years which would give him over $30 mil.

Another possibility is that Phoenix trades Nash to us next year. Then he is our player and we can re-sign Nash after we sign LeBron + whomever.