Lakers get Steve Nash

[The Skyhook]

I'm not sure anyone mentioned it yet but Mitch strikes in silence again. I don't think anyone took those Nash S&T rumors from 2 days ago seriously.

[Sedale Threatt]

Don't forget the Knicks. They're kinda pissed too.

[Tdot24]

LOL everyone on the Toronto Raptors board are enraged by this.

Yeah, one thread was even about voting Nash off Team Canada in the Olympics.

But I'd be enraged if I were a Raps fan too, they offered Fields a big contract in hopes of the Knicks matching it and rendering themselves out of the Nash race. Now they're stuck with overpaying Fields and don't have Nash. That's gotta suck.

Feeling like he owes the city anything is a little much. The massive offer Fields received is Colangelo's fault and no one else. Colangelo has been known to overpay players and as much as the Raptors made a move to block the Nash to NYK deal, I'm sure they also had their eyes set on Fields. I like Landry Fields, he's tough and gritty. Not afraid to guard anyone, which I think will fit nicely with Casey's system.

Even if the Knicks had an upper hand on landing Nash, there were also other teams to consider. Being from Toronto, I still support the Raptors. However, a lot of the backlash Nash is getting is just ridiculous. But that's sports and the nature of the people who support their teams, I guess..

[Tdot24]

I'm not sure anyone mentioned it yet but Mitch strikes in silence again. I don't think anyone took those Nash S&T rumors from 2 days ago seriously.

So true. All the talk about the Lakers not making any big moves this off-season and then he goes and snags Steve Nash. hahaha I love it..

[Jetset]

I'm not sure anyone mentioned it yet but Mitch strikes in silence again. I don't think anyone took those Nash S&T rumors from 2 days ago seriously.

The same thing that happened with CP3 back in December. Didn't hear anything at all until we snuck in at the last minute and acquired him for 5 minutes then he was taken away.

I thought there possibly may have been something to it. I didn't know how it was going to happen but I just didn't see this same team rolling into the season with no upgrades and Sessions running the point. Then Stein tweeted on Tuesday that the move was vetoed by Suns brass and they couldn't stomach seeing him play for the rival. Of course our FO deserves some credit, but a lot of the credit goes to the Suns for granting Nash's wish. They were totally against it at first.

[iamworthy]

I can just picture nash knocking down all those open shots that sessions missed.

Haven't you heard? Apparently according to the GB, Nash isn't that much of an improvement to Sessions. And we'll still get beat in 5 games by OKC.

Yeah they mad!

[rsavaj]

Finally someone with the ability to throw a simple post pass

I promise I am not trolling.

Nash is terrible at entry passes. It is the weirdest thing. It completely boggles the mind. The man can not throw a simple entry pass, even though he's a damn wizard. There were SO many turnovers when he tried to throw a pass to Shaq in the post.

I don't get it either.

[iamworthy]

I dont see this one happening fellas.

Can't always be right Big Game. I was ecstatic when I found the news to be true. Did not see anything coming on the 4th of July. Its a great day for Lakers Nation.

Yup, I was totally wrong about his one. I didnt see this coming at all. Very, very please about it though. Everyone's shooting percentage just went up 5%

[Jetset]

Don't forget the Knicks. They're kinda pissed too.

I forgot about them, they mad too. But not as scorned as the others it seems, apparently they didn't want Nash if it meant giving up Shumpert. Why, I don't know.

[Sedale Threatt]

You know how it is. Fans latch onto their guys and totally overrate them. It's some kind of syndrome.

[Golabki]

Doesn't this seem like a bad fit? Nash doesn't seem like a natural fit with the most plodding front-court in the NBA, and Kobe and Nash are two guys that need to dominate the ball to perform at a super-star level.

Unless they get Howard I think this is a 2nd round exit team.

[semi-sentient]

Doesn't this seem like a bad fit? Nash doesn't seem like a natural fit with the most plodding front-court in the NBA, and Kobe and Nash are two guys that need to dominate the ball to perform at a super-star level.

Kobe doesn't need to dominate the ball to perform at a superstar level. He can be highly effective playing off-the-ball and if Steve Nash knows when to ignore him (which I'm sure he will) then he'll be used as more of a decoy to draw defenders. Nash is the kind of guy that is going to limit Kobe's role offensively whether he likes it or not, and that's going to pay dividends towards the end of the game when defenses tighten and we call on him to make difficult shots.

Nash isn't a bad fit. He can play in any style offense.

The real problem is Gasol/Bynum. One of them has to go in order for us to maximize the Lakers offensive flow, and IMO it should be Bynum because he's the only one with any real value.

Assuming we keep Bynum I'd actually explore a Gasol/Odom swap. Odom just fits better and is the more gifted rebounder, runs the floor better, and is without question a better defender.

Unless they get Howard I think this is a 2nd round exit team.

You're under-estimating the impact that a true PG can have on a team. Nash is the best pure PG in the league and has been for the past decade. One thing that absolutely has killed the Lakers (for several years now) has been the lack of a PG that can throw entry passes and just as importantly hit open shots. Nash makes a world of difference because you can't leave him open. He's going to hit open shots, and he won't be turning down shots the way that Sessions did time and time again. The man has the so-called clutch gene and is a great competitor/leader on top of that. With Nash the Lakers would have likely gotten past the Thunder. Sessions was that bad, and Nash is that good.

Expect the Lakers to have the top 3 offense this year, and if they swap Bynum for Howard then they'll be a top 5 defensive team as well.

[iamworthy]

The lakers just got more attractive as a player destination.

[Golabki]

Doesn't this seem like a bad fit? Nash doesn't seem like a natural fit with the most plodding front-court in the NBA, and Kobe and Nash are two guys that need to dominate the ball to perform at a super-star level.

Kobe doesn't need to dominate the ball to perform at a superstar level. He can be highly effective playing off-the-ball and if Steve Nash knows when to ignore him (which I'm sure he will) then he'll be used as more of a decoy to draw defenders. Nash is the kind of guy that is going to limit Kobe's role offensively whether he likes it or not, and that's going to pay dividends towards the end of the game when defenses tighten and we call on him to make difficult shots.

Nash isn't a bad fit. He can play in any style offense.

The real problem is Gasol/Bynum. One of them has to go in order for us to maximize the Lakers offensive flow, and IMO it should be Bynum because he's the only one with any real value.

Assuming we keep Bynum I'd actually explore a Gasol/Odom swap. Odom just fits better and is the more gifted rebounder, runs the floor better, and is without question a better defender.

Unless they get Howard I think this is a 2nd round exit team.

You're under-estimating the impact that a true PG can have on a team. Nash is the best pure PG in the league and has been for the past decade. One thing that absolutely has killed the Lakers (for several years now) has been the lack of a PG that can throw entry passes and just as importantly hit open shots. Nash makes a world of difference because you can't leave him open. He's going to hit open shots, and he won't be turning down shots the way that Sessions did time and time again. The man has the so-called clutch gene and is a great competitor/leader on top of that. With Nash the Lakers would have likely gotten past the Thunder. Sessions was that bad, and Nash is that good.

Expect the Lakers to have the top 3 offense this year, and if they swap Bynum for Howard then they'll be a top 5 defensive team as well.

But look back on Nash in Dallas. He was a good player, but not great. He goes to Pho and becomes arguably the best player in the game for a few years. The main difference was that in Dallas the offense was about Dirk first; in Pho the offense was all Nash. I think Kobe will have a similar impact on Nash... I mean, when Kobe is playing ISO ball (the only thing he probably still does as well as anyone in the game) Nash becomes Steve Blake with worse D.

[Sedale Threatt]

Nash isn't a bad fit. He can play in any style offense.

Not only that, but it seems to me that there are a lot of people who don't understand what style the Suns have to begin with. Playing at a high tempo doesn't necessarily mean running. Him fitting in is the least of my concerns.

[Sedale Threatt]

But look back on Nash in Dallas. He was a good player, but not great. He goes to Pho and becomes arguably the best player in the game for a few years. The main difference was that in Dallas the offense was about Dirk first; in Pho the offense was all Nash. I think Kobe will have a similar impact on Nash... I mean, when Kobe is playing ISO ball (the only thing he probably still does as well as anyone in the game) Nash becomes Steve Blake with worse D.

Except, at the very least, Nash is a vastly better shooter than Blake. It's a fair point about Kobe's style and mentality. No question he's going to have to adjust his approach. But I can't imagine Nash -- or the Lakers, for that matter -- are just going to sit back and let him pound the ball. If so, what was the point of acquiring him in the first place?

[Wavy Q]

Nashty Steve in your area, about to cause mass hysteria

[iamworthy]

Mike Bresnahan ‏@Mike_Bresnahan

Agent Bill Duffy told me Nash asked to speak to Kobe the other night: "They have a great deal of respect and admiration for each other.

Mike Bresnahan ‏@Mike_Bresnahan

Nash's agent didn't specify conversation details. I'll guess it was a "Can-this-work?" call from Nash to Kobe. Obviously, Nash was satisfied

[phx#7]

But look back on Nash in Dallas. He was a good player, but not great. He goes to Pho and becomes arguably the best player in the game for a few years. The main difference was that in Dallas the offense was about Dirk first; in Pho the offense was all Nash. I think Kobe will have a similar impact on Nash... I mean, when Kobe is playing ISO ball (the only thing he probably still does as well as anyone in the game) Nash becomes Steve Blake with worse D.

Difference between Nash in Dallas and Nash now is everyone knows the impact Steve is capable of if he's given the freedom to run an offense. I doubt Kobe recruited Nash just to have him stand in the corner and shoot 3s.

And Nash's D isn't nearly as bad as Blake's. For some reason people have this notion that if you're average on D you're terrible. And that's what Nash is, average(plus he'll probably convince Grant to join him and Hill has been one of the best wing defenders the past couple years).

[Biff]

Nash numbers are empty...his teams aren't winning games and here has no impact in games. He can't carry a team , so it's really moot to compare him to Kobe. Kobe has to carry his team nightly, Nash put up empty numbers on a pathetic team.

Sorry, but I just have to call you out on this. Nash almost carried a roster with hardly any talent to the playoffs last year. A roster comparable in talent to the 04-05 Lakers, which missed the playoffs. And Kobe was in his prime. And the western conference was supposedly weak.