The Phoenix Suns could explore a trade of Steve Nash should the team fail to get back in the playoff race, according to a report by FanHouse's Sam Amick. The New York Knicks are interested should Nash be available despite the presence of Raymond Felton, reported Amick.
Steve Nash Trade Rumors Begin To Circulate, With Knicks Reportedly Interested
The Suns have struggled this season, currently sitting at just 14-18 and three games out of the Western Conference's No. 8 seed. Phoenix surprisingly made the Western Conference Finals last season after beating the Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio Spurs, but the loss of Amar'e Stoudemire derailed the Suns' 2010-11 campaign.
Seeking a shake-up, the Suns got involved in the Orlando Magic's trade games, eventually sending Jason Richardson and Hedo Turkoglu to central Florida for Vince Carter, Mickael Pietrus and Marcin Gortat. The idea was that Hedo fit poorly in Phoenix, and Gortat's defense would be a big boon. It hasn't worked out that way: the Suns are 2-5 since the trade and just 1-4 since Gortat and Pietrus made their debuts. The defense has still been porous, with Kings rookie DeMarcus Cousins dropping 28 points on the Suns on Sunday.
Nash has still been fantastic, shooting mighty efficiently and averaging 10.6 assists per game. But outside of Carter and Grant Hill, Nash is the only Sun over the age of 30. The two-time MVP signed a two-year extension with the Suns in July 2009 that pays Nash $22 million through the end of the 2011-12 season.
The Knicks have gotten a near All-Star season out of Felton, but Nash is on a different level. There’s also the matter of his (wildly successful) history with Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni and Amar’e Stoudemire.
For more on Nash and the Suns, visit Bright Side Of The Sun and SB Nation Arizona.
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