Stay Connected
Atlanta Black Star/Sports
Sports

Lakers Make Big Move: Trade For Steve Nash

Posted byBy ABS Contributor | Published on: CommentsComments (0)

In a move that could bolt the Los Angeles Lakers back into championship contention, the team agreed with the Phoenix Suns for a sign-and-trade deal that would bring to L.A. two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash, pairing him in the backcourt with Kobe Bryant.

Nash, seeking to stay near his young children in Phoenix, initiated the trade idea to the Lakers. The Suns’ management initially declined to do so, but reconsider instead of allowing the 38-year-old floor general to sign with the Toronto Raptors or trade him to the New York Knicks.

And so, Nash will receive a three-year deal in excess of $25 million, sources said, because the Lakers can absorb Nash via the trade exception they created by dealing Lamar Odom to the Dallas Mavericks in December

The Suns receive four draft picks — first rounders in 2013 and 2015 and second-rounders in 2013 and 2014.

Sources told ESPN.com that Nash was also persuaded to join the Lakers by Bryant, who made a convincing pitch. Bryant’s persuasion coupled with Nash’s desire to stay in close proximity to his three children in Phoenix were deciding factors in his decision.

“After talking with (owner) Robert (Sarver) and (president of basketball operations) Lon (Babby) we’ve agreed that it’s time for both of us to move in new directions,” Nash said in a statement. “I approached them and asked if they would be willing to do a sign-and-trade deal with L.A. because it is very important to me to stay near my children and family.

“They were very apprehensive and didn’t want to do it. Fortunately for me, they reconsidered. They saw that they were able to get assets for their team that will make them better, assets they would not have otherwise had and it made sense for them to do a deal that helps their team get better.”

The deal can’t be officially completed until July 11, when a league-wide moratorium on new business is lifted

With Nash, the Lakers could cancel its interest in Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard and make another run at it with Nash, Bryant, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum.

In addition, 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.

Democracy needs journalism it can trust.

This election season, the stakes are higher than usual — and so is the pressure on newsrooms to soften their coverage, stay quiet, or just disappear. Independent reporting, the kind that answers to readers instead of advertisers or political pressure, matters more in a moment like this, not less.

For over 14 years, Atlanta Black Star has stayed independent and reader-funded. We have no corporate owner and no shareholders telling us what to cover or how to cover it. That independence is also our biggest vulnerability: nothing protects it except readers choosing to fund it directly.

Newspaper ad revenue has fallen more than 80% since 2005, and local newsrooms are closing at a rate of roughly two a week nationwide. When outlets go under in a moment like this, it's rarely the independent, reader-funded ones that get to stick around.

We know a request for support isn't why you came here. But without readers choosing to fund this work directly, the depth of reporting we can do at home and abroad shrinks along with everyone else's. If you're not in a position to give, that doesn't change how much we value you as a reader.

If you are able to, a recurring contribution does more for us than a single one-time gift, because it lets us plan the next investigation instead of just the next invoice. It takes about 30 seconds, no long form, no account. Thank you for continuing to support independent journalism and freedom of the press.

Give once Give monthly Support another way

Related Stories

Back to top