Phoenix Suns’ Steve Nash leaves the court after an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs. (AP Photo/Matt York)
PHOENIX SUNS LEGEND Steve Nash is headed to the Los Angeles Lakers in a shock trade, according to reports.
ESPN claims Nash brokered a sign-and-trade deal from the Suns to join the Lakers on what is believed to be a three-year US$25 million deal. A sign-and-trade deal allows a team to sign an unrestricted free agent to a contract and trade him to another team of the player’s choosing.
Phoenix newspaper The Arizona Republic reported that, in exchange for the 38-year-old star, the Suns have acquired 2013 and 2015 first-round picks as well as 2013 and 2014 second-round picks from the Lakers.
The Lakers are believed to have beaten a strong bid from the New York Knicks to snap up Nash. The trade seemingly places the Lakers back in championships calculations next season with Nash, who has never won a title, teaming up with the likes of Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Metta World Peace.
The Lakers were eliminated from the play-offs this year by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semi-finals and have not won the title since 2010. Nash, a two-time Most Valuable Player, is regarded as one of the greatest point guards in NBA history, having led the league in assists on five occasions.
He has played 1270 games across 16 seasons with Phoenix (10) and Dallas (six).
