Lakers land Nash, NBA championship contenders?
Two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash is going to the Los Angeles Lakers. He successfully negotiated a sign-and-trade deal from the Phoenix Suns.
ESPN.com reports that Kobe Bryant persuaded Nash to join the Lakers. The move could put the Lakers in contention for an NBA title and allows Nash to play for a team that’s just a short plane trip away from his three kids in Phoenix.
Nash reportedly will receive a three-year contract worth more than $25 million.
The deal can’t be officially completed until July 11, when a league-wide moratorium on new business is lifted. The Suns will receive some future draft picks.
Just last week, Nash said in a radio interview that it would be difficult to sign with the Lakers.
“The truth is I’m a bit old school,” Nash said. “For me, it would be hard to put on a Lakers jersey. That’s just the way it is. You play against them so many times in the playoffs, and I just use them as an example, and I have the utmost respect for them and their organization.”
Nash earned nearly $12 million last season and averaged 12.5 points and 10.7 assists for the Suns.
