Lakers: Shopping Nash’s Contract Before the Trade Deadline
By Scott Asai
Steve Nash had an outstanding NBA career, but since his announcement to forgo the 2014-15 NBA season with the Lakers he’s been MIA. Byron Scott called him several weeks ago about being a mentor to the team, but Nash just recently returned his call. What’s done is done and the Lakers need to shop his contract before it expires in order to receive some value back.
Here are 3 options the Lakers can take:
1) Goran Dragic has been linked to the Lakers because of Phoenix’s financial commitment to Eric Bledsoe and Isaiah Thomas. Dragic is an unrestricted free agent in 2015 and he’s been rumored to being “open” to hearing offers from other teams so the Suns risk losing him for nothing unless they trade him. Nash and Goran’s contracts are pretty similar and if the Lakers need to take back a small contract from Phoenix, they should do it. Nash wants to retire as a Sun plus Phoenix owes us for a damaged player and an even worse former head coach.
2) Mo Williams is a solid contributor, but has been a journeyman of sorts his entire career. He’s making about half of what Nash is making this season so this means a third team needs to get involved, but since Minnesota isn’t including Mo in their future plans parting with him for the right deal is completely a financial decision. The Lakers need a scoring point guard to take some of the load off Kobe plus Williams played with LeBron before so he can co-exist in the spotlight with another superstar.
3) Roy Hibbert took a nosedive after being named an All-Star in 2014, but he’s been rumored in a trade for Nash and Sacre. Roy’s contract goes though the 2015-16 season, but the Lakers could just turn around and trade him for salary cap relief. In the days of small ball in the NBA, Hibbert is a serviceable big man and an upgrade to the Lakers current roster. This is the least desirable of the three scenarios, but a way to get something back for Nash.
Steve Nash’s career as a Laker was a disaster so let’s hope the front office can flip his contract for some value before it expires.