Lately I have heard many rumors regarding Nash’s future. “Rumors” as used in this sense means they may be true, but I have no real way of verifying them.
According to these rumors, Nash would like to have a 3-year contract, but the Suns may only be willing to give him two, in the $10 million/year range. However, it looks as though the Suns and Nash would be willing to engage in a sign-and-trade, so Nash could still get his money and could take less elsewhere. This would allow him to sign with a contender, not a Toronto or a New Jersey (soon to be Brooklyn) or a New York. It would also allow the Suns to still have the cap space they need to try and sign a free agent (or two) this offseason that can immediately contribute.
If Nash does decide to leave, the other rumor circling is that the Suns would push hard to get Deron Williams. I for one am not sure what they are thinking. Yes, Williams is a great point guard with shooting and playmaking skills and a guy that can take the last shot in big games. But the troubles in Salt Lake that forced a Hall of Fame coach to take off. Sloan actually interviewed for the Bobcats coaching position. Williams has been okay in New Jersey and would do much better in Phoenix with better players and a system that has always emphasized the point guard position. But Phoenix has also always been known for having pretty good chemistry in the locker room. Nash makes everyone around him better. Williams would just make things worse.
I think the Suns should keep Nash and Sebastian Telfair and amnesty Josh Childress. This would give them the space to sign one or two solid free agents. Plus they have the 13th pick in what many are calling a pretty strong draft. This way they can build for both the present and the future. The core of Nash, Gortat, Dudley and Frye is a good core to start from, and they will be better this year than last year. Adding a good free agent or two and a solid draft pick would make them a playoff contender for a few seasons.
While we can speculate about what the Suns should or might do, only time will tell. My advice: have low expectations. That way, when the Suns find some way to totally screw things up (see Joe Johnson, Amare Stoudemire, Boris Diaw, Leandro Barbosa, and Goran Dragic), you won’t be too disappointed.
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