Steve Nash plus Jeremy Lin doesn't add up
Steve Nash. NBA.com/Suns
12:53 pm Jun. 21, 20121
Asked on Wednesday night about the possibility of becoming a New York Knick, the Phoenix Suns' All-Star point guard Nash sounded encouraging, saying he'd "definitely consider" signing with the Knicks.
But then Marc Berman reported Thursday that Nash doesn't consider the Knicks a real option.
There are a number of reasons to believe that's true.
Last season, Nash was one of the N.B.A.'s premier point guards. His advanced age, 38, should limit the length of any free agent contract he signs, but almost certainly not the annual value of it. And he's perfectly capable of playing starter minutes, averaging better than 31 per game last year.
So why would he come to the Knicks? Jeremy Lin, in any realistic accounting, is coming back, and not to be a backup.
And what money would the Knicks use to get Nash, anyway? If the players prevail in the still-undecided arbitration hearing, the Knicks could still only offer him a maximum of $5 million next season. It is hard to imagine that another N.B.A. team, one with cap room, wouldn't offer Nash more. (If the league prevails in arbitration, the maximum the Knicks could offer Nash next year is $1.9 million.)
As for the Knicks, with many holes to fill, why exactly would they use what little salary room they have to double up on a starting point guard, at the expense of starting shooting guard and backups for Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler?
It's seems as if the main reason people seem to think Steve Nash is coming to New York is that he has an apartment in the city. Well, so does Lena Dunham. She's about as likely as he is to be playing for the Knicks next year.
Nash plus Lin is not necessary....All Knicks need is Jeremy Lin, period.