Nash: won't stay if Suns don't 'upgrade' roster

[rsavaj]

"I definitely do want to win," Nash told Patrick. "I'm not going to come back to the Suns if there isn't an improvement, if they're not ambitious and they're not looking to upgrade the roster seriously. And I think they are. They'll have a lot of flexibility in free agency. They'll also have been standing pat in many ways so they could do some things this summer. I think they'll become a definite possiblity for me. I do want to win. I do want to consider all my options."

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/PaulCoro/158461

It certainly looks like Phoenix will have some work to do if they want to woo Nash enough to remain with the Suns as the aging guard wants the taste of winning back on his lips before he hangs them up for good. Hopefully they can give him that.

http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2012/ ... trick-suns

[Jan_Sobieski]

Smells good for the Heat.

[BooRadley]

He gone.

[lazfa199]

they could just add mayo and beasley

[Wone]

this is strange. wasn't there an interview where he said he wanted to stay with the suns just a few weeks ago? i find it weird that nash would make this what looks like a complete contradiction to what he said just a few weeks ago..

[rsavaj]

Smells good for the Heat.

Not unless they can offer him the money he thinks he's worth. Last month, he said this:

Nash told the Associated Press that he "definitely would re-sign with the Suns," meaning he would consider the possibility after he becomes a free agent in the off-season.

But he said if the Suns do not want to pay his worth, they would be doing so "at their own peril."

On how much longer he will play, Nash said, "When people ask me, I just say I can play a couple more years. I could say three more years. Who knows? Maybe five. I think I could play a long time if I want to."

[ChosenSavior]

this is strange. wasn't there an interview where he said he wanted to stay with the suns just a few weeks ago? i find it weird that nash would make this what looks like a complete contradiction to what he said just a few weeks ago..

This.

Didn't he talk about loyalty and not wanting to abandon his teammates and the franchise? Crazy that he has a change of heart all of a sudden.

[Muggsy Bogues]

this is strange. wasn't there an interview where he said he wanted to stay with the suns just a few weeks ago? i find it weird that nash would make this what looks like a complete contradiction to what he said just a few weeks ago..

This.

Didn't he talk about loyalty and not wanting to abandon his teammates and the franchise? Crazy that he has a change of heart all of a sudden.

Perhaps he's found out that Sarver wants to trade some players and draft picks in yet another cost-cutting move?

[doa]

He is loyal enough to not abandon ship in the middle of the season, but to resign after his contract ends would be more than anyone should expect of him.

[rsavaj]

this is strange. wasn't there an interview where he said he wanted to stay with the suns just a few weeks ago? i find it weird that nash would make this what looks like a complete contradiction to what he said just a few weeks ago..

This.

Didn't he talk about loyalty and not wanting to abandon his teammates and the franchise? Crazy that he has a change of heart all of a sudden.

He hasn't had a change of heart. He always said he would never request a trade out of loyalty to his teammates, because he isn't the kind of guy to jump ship mid-season. However, he never said he was a cert to re-sign here.

With the trade deadline passing Thursday with no action by the Suns as pledged, the next order of business will be whether the Suns re-sign the 38-year-old point guard.

"He will have options and one he will strongly consider is Phoenix, based on what they're planning to do," Duffy said. "They respect him and he likes (Suns Managing Partner) Robert Sarver, (President of Basketball Operations) Lon Babby, (coach) Alvin Gentry and his teammates.

"I know they'd like to re-sign him, but that'll be his decision."

Despite sub-.500 results, Nash and the Suns squelched trade speculation to the point it vanished this week. It was a stark difference to how Dwight Howard's situation played out in Orlando with constant rumors and eventual apologies.

Babby met with Nash when the lockout ended in late November to get on the same page. Nash consistently proclaimed loyalty to the city, franchise and teammates while the Suns said they would not trade him unless he wanted that.

"I'm proud of it," Babby said. "It was my goal and our goal as an organization to avoid having his situation be a distraction all season long. The only way to do that is to be in partnership and Steve has been a wonderful partner all year.

"I suppose there are people who disagree with whether we should have traded him, but the way he's handled himself validates and reinforces why we decided to keep him. Stability, loyalty and respect are important in laying our foundation."

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/ar ... z1qY0JNugT

He hasn't changed his tune at all. You can listen to his interview with Simmons today and he says the same thing he's been saying all season long: http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-trian ... steve-nash

It is a great conversation. I'm not a big Simmons fan but he is a great interviewer.

[Jay10]

nash really thinks an organization would build a roster around a 38 year old player?

sure sounds like a person looking for an excuse to leave the suns.

the media will probably link him to the knicks because he lives in new york during the off-season.

[RunSunRun]

We are going to go hard after some names this offseason, I fully expect us to strike out on the major names (no surprise), but we will go after and overpay guys like Gordon, Batum, etc.

No way is $arver going to give up on Nash's money making draw, he's not done suckling on the teat,

[ChosenSavior]

^^ Thanks for that info. I mistakenly confused his stance on being traded versus him becoming a free agent. I'm sure if he sees Phoenix make moves towards improving the roster, then I'm sure he'll stay cause he clearly loves Phoenix as a whole.

[mkot]

i find it weird that nash would make this what looks like a complete contradiction to what he said just a few weeks ago..

That's what losing and at the blink of eliminating from the post season will do to you. And no where he said the Suns is not his first option if the Suns can manage to improve this offseason.

[Jazza2319]

I dont blame him, but Phoenix and Dallas are the only places he can play that he will still keep his fans and rep for being loyal. Jumping to Miami would be a horrible move, not only for him, but Lebron as well

Question is, what do they do in FA?

Amnesty Childress
Make large offer to Batum?
sign Beasley?
Make large offer to Mayo or Ellis?

I could see them signing Ellis and Beasley. Their defense would be horrible, but imagine the offense:

Nash - Brooks? - Telfair
Ellis - Dudley - Brown
Hill - Beasley
Beasley? - Frye
Gortat - Lopez

[SNES Chalmers]

This is about 2 years too late

[theFireBlanket]

(Jazza:) Monta isn't an FA...

[Jazza2319]

(Jazza:) Monta isn't an FA...

He has an ETO, i see him using it

[Ettorefm]

Nash is just pressuring the FO to improve the team, that's it. If he says he will stay no matter what, why would they spend a lot and put a lot of efford? Just let the things stay how they are.
.
But if he says something like that, they need to improve the team so he stays. He WILL stay no matter what, I'd bet my balls on it, but he can't say that. He needs to say his options are open so the team gives him what he wants. And he's 100% right.
.
Suns fan here

[Bertrob]

Good for the Suns
They can move on