The Nash Factor

The Los Angeles Lakers made a huge move that should keep them as a contender in the competitive western conference. They officially reached an agreement to acquire 2 time MVP point guard, Steve Nash from the Phoenix Suns in a sign and trade that will send 4 future draft picks including 2 first rounders plus 3 million in cash to the Suns. Nash will cash in on a 3 year, $27 million offer from the Lakers. He will be able to sign that on July 11 when teams are officially permitted to sign free agents. The suns will receive a first round pick in 2013 and 2015 and second round picks in 2013 and 2014. The deal gives Kobe Bryant a legitimate chance to tie Michael Jordan with 6 rings and gives the desperate Steve Nash a shot at his first. Nash,38, averaged a double double with 12.5 points and 10.7 assists per game. He passed up a 3 year, $36 million offer from the Toronto Raptors, as well as an offer from the New York Knicks to join the Lakers. The Lakers are a perfect fit for Nash because they have solid inside threats in Gasol and Bynum, they have shooters in Kobe, Matt Barnes, and Ramon Sessions, and lockdown defenders with the likes of Metta World Peace and Jordan Hill. Now the real question is what happens to Ramon Sessions who they acquired from Cleveland at the deadline last year he has the option to walk and test free agency or he can resign and be a backup to Nash, but in my opinion Ramon Sessions is a starting point guard in this league and a solid one too. The Lakers should resign Sessions simply because at 38 Steve Nash's body might not hold up playing over 35 minutes a game, which is why Sessions will get a lot of playing time. Ramon Sessions will get the chance to learn from an experienced vet. This move from the Lakers shows that they want to attempt to make a run at another championship with this group of guys, in what is becoming a very dangerous Western Conference. Nash's production is not the question, it's the production of the players around him that will ultimately determine the fate of this team come playoff time next season.-Tyler Tenenbaum