http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1833028 ESPN.com DALLAS -- Dallas Mavericks free agent guard Steve Nash reached a verbal agreement Thursday night to sign with the Phoenix Suns, ESPN.com's Marc Stein has learned. Steve Nash Point Guard Dallas Mavericks Profile 2003-2004 SEASON STATISTICS GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT% 78 14.5 3.0 8.8 .470 .916 Nash and agent Bill Duffy, according to league sources, received an offer from Phoenix on Thursday -- believed to be a five-year package believed to be worth more than $65 million with a partial guarantee for the sixth season -- and brought it back to the Mavericks. Mavs owner Mark Cuban, sources said, declined to match the offer. "It's exciting, but it's also a little bittersweet," Nash told ESPN.com. "I am really sad to leave my teammates, but I am glad to be going somewhere where they really wanted me." According to sources, after giving the Suns a verbal committment, Nash immediately phoned longtime teammates Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Finley to break the news. No deals can be formally signed until July 14, when the salary cap for next season is set. Teams and free agents can only reach verbal agreements during the league's two-week moratorium on signings and trades. Nash had met with Cuban in Dallas on Wednesday morning and then was greeted by a traveling Suns delegation that included Suns chairman Jerry Colangelo, son and team president Bryan Colangelo, new owner Robert Sarver and forward Amare Stoudemire, a client of Duffy's. On Wednesday, Duffy said "It was a good meeting [with Cuban]. Mark made it very clear that re-signing Steve is a priority." The Suns originally drafted the 30-year-old Nash in 1996 and he never sold his home in the Phoenix area. Bringing in Nash eliminates the Suns from the Kobe Bryant derby. On Wednesday night, it was reported that Phoenix was prepared to offer Bryant a six-year deal worth over $100 million.
The ? made it look like a question, when its really a statement. I thought initially he was posting a rumor or report speculating on Nash going to Phoenix. Anyway, not important....
Question to ponder. Nash is singned to a near max deal (replacing Marbury from last year) Marion is signed to a max deal Stoudamire is going to want to be signed to a max deal shortly Joe Johnson is going to want 8-9M per season shortly. Can the Suns afford all that? No chance. The signing of Nash to me signals the end of Marion somehow. Rule of thumb, unless you are Portland, Dallas or NY most teams can only afford TWO max contract guys. Phoenix, a team reportedly that has had money problems in the past, is nowhere close to having the resources as those big boy teams.
lol. They get rid of marbury who had a big contract. Get a couple of number one picks to along with it. Trade them away, and now they sign nash to a big deal.
The Suns have new owners right? I think some San Diego banker and Steve Kerr (minority owner) and others. But you are right, only a few teams can afford 2+ max contracts. All other teams need to be very careful that their max contracts are max contract players not max contract headaches. That's another reason the T-Max for SF was a good deal.
wait....how does this affect dallas' push for shaq? wasn't nash an integral part of the potential trade to LA?? so the mavs think the lakers are going to make a deal for shaq that doesn't include either nash or nowitzki?? good luck.
Lose lose situation for both Dallas and Phx. Nash is soul and real engine of the Dallas's run and gun offense. He has excellent Ast / To ratio and great court vision, good outside shooting and penetration. Without him, Dalllas' offense will be much less efficient, that is a good thing for our team though. But 5 years for 65M contract? That is just too much. Phx' boss is really the dumb ass, or he really tries to screw his successor hard, I think he sold Phx to some businessmen in AZ, right? It is irony that Sun just get rid of Starburry's long term max contract and now they signed another PG with avg $13M for 5 years? Ridiculous!
Well said. Nash is in his 30s and will slow down (a lil) eventually. I see him helping Phoenix short term and he has weapons to work with. Dallas drops below us now IMO.
Right on the $, Iny2k. Can't say I'm disappointed though, let the Suns 10 year rebuilding plan continue.... Is it just me or is Iny2k one of the best damn posters in GARM/NBA fora? Where did that come from? Hell, where did I come from? And why won't I shut up?
