Steve Nash: "I'm sorry but I want the money"

[TonyMontana]

That's true- trading for Howard wasn't an absolute brain-dead all-good decision. The fact that Bynum hasn't played is also mitigated by the fact we also threw in a 1st round pick.

This I have no problem, its a wash. Garbage for garbage the way I see it. Even though I wished we pulled the trade on him if we could have. But we took a chance and it didn't go our way. Oh well! Lets move on

(I believe we gave up 2 1st and 2 2nd for Nash, which was a lot worse.).

But this! This is the stinger! Why? I mean if we signed him outright then I probably wouldn't be upset as I am about the F.O but Nash had a lot of red flags that any competent management in any sports would have seen it.

He was old, passed his prime, injury prone, lots of baggage and yet we signed him to a ridiculous contract and GAVE away our picks!! And today he posts videos of himself doing yoga in Malibu beach saying Im sorry but I want the money!!

Again I have no problem with what he said ( I would do the same) or the fact that he signed a contract and contracts are to be honored. ANY CONTRACT but this cat needs to stfu and crawl back in his box and hope he can come back next season and at least earn a dime of those millions he is getting paid for. Because to an average Laker fan or to any fan its pretty bold of him to make a comment like that when we had hopes and expectations from you and you failed to come through no matter who's fault it is, but nevertheless your running your mouth about it.

This isn't Phoenix this is LA!

Being a Suns fan (I am not coming in trying to be the enemy), I am probably biased, but at the time it looked like a great move for the Lakers. Nash was old, and out of his prime. However he was coming off an all star appearance where he led the Suns nearly to the playoffs with a team full of players that barely deserved to be in the NBA. Before last season, he was not considered injury prone. He had a back issue, but it rarely kept him out of games. The Lakers sent the Suns picks thinking that you guys were going to be a championship team. At the time sending two late first round picks did not seem like a big deal for the Lakers. The injury he sustained was a freak one, not something that had been breaking down for a long time.

Nash is speaking his mind and being honest(he actually has most of career from war, to coaching style , etc). If you watch those videos you see him working his tail off to try to get back. You guys feel had, and I can understand that, but at the time it was not a decision that looked to be horrible. You would have two good years of Nash and then at worst one year where he was an expiring trade asset. In regards to the medical retirement, its not like he could be trying to play and practice, then one day medically retire. It is apparently nearly impossible to get the NBA to evaluate you as that. It sucks for you guys, but in some ways it may work out well with a top 5 pick and cap space in a year.

Good post and welcome to our board.

You made some valid points and I don't know if you have read some of my posts about Nash.

IMHO

Me personally, I didn't want Nash in LA. Now Im not Mitch or Jim so my opinion doesn't mean anything to this org other than a fans point of view.
On that note. My concerns was his age, his back, and the fact we needed a younger quicker P.G.
I believe Jim was in a win now mode and he took a chance on Nash (same reasons you mentioned) and gave up picks and a nice contract and it ended up backfiring.

Again as I stated before I have no problem with Nash and his contract since Im a business man and I own my own company and I believe EVERY contract has to be honored as long as both parties follow through with their agreement when that contract is signed. SO again Nash has to be paid. Whether or not he earned it is another story. Do I think he earned it? Not at all, but its a contract and Nash is injured so I don't blame Nash for his injuries and injuries happened. My problem is the picks and the poor judgment our F.O took on Nash. But that's my opinion. The comment I made about Nash is different from the majority of Laker fans that don't see things from my point of view (contract, etc) and Nash posting videos of himself and telling people I want the money doesn't do him any justice/ good because THOSE Laker fans see him as "greedy, selfish, hasnt contributed anything etc etc " person who is basically stealing money from this org. and not contributing anything to earn his check. Again I don't see it that way.

But like I said I personally think Nash needs to keep quiet and get well and at least come back next season and redeem himself and earn a little of that pay.

I hope that cleared up my take on Nash.

[chefy]

problem here is hypocrisy.

if youre gonna say "its all about winning a championship now" and you're in a way of that goal, then you're a **** liar and you deserve to be criticized.

and please dont say hes working his ass off, that is his job! plus whats so hard in training in million dollar facilities, being trained by top notched physical trainers and doctors, **** models, living in L.A and making millions of dollars? now i bet anyone of you here wouldn't say no to that kind of life style with or without an extra 9 million dollars on the side.

like kilroy said, nash is not like anyone else. he has made 100 of millions dollars in the past, his individual career/accolades are already established, hes a 2 time mvp and a future hall of famer, if youre gonna come here and say "i wanna get a ring, its all about championship now" then you have to back that up and be ready to make sacrifices.

dont fell for that "im evil, but youre evil too" speech, thats one of the oldest tricks in the book. 9 million dollars or not, im 100% sure at some point in your life, you have sacrificed money for something you think is more important or something you prioritize more.

also a player taking a pay cut is not something uncommon. malone, payton, duncan, ginobili, parker, james, wade, heck even dwight took a paycut. nick young took a paycut just to be a lakers.

nash is just a big negative right now. he hasnt contributed that much ever since he came here basketball wise, and on top of that hes eating cap space, which is our main way of going back to the top or "winning a championship".

[TyCobb]

Except Nash isn't a FA looking to sign somewhere. It's either try to finish out your contract or pretty much give up the game as a player. He seems like he hasn't mailed that in yet.

[TonyMontana]

Nash is done!!

[spree8]

I don't like how all the focus is on that one quote. He was saying a lot more than just that. He loves the game and wants to get back to 100% so he can have a chance to contribute to the team, and help them have a successful season (and of course a championship). He doesn't want to retire like this and I don't blame him. Who would wanna go out like that?

Putting myself in his shoes, after coming here chasing a title and ending up having a horrible first season with the whole Dwight fiasco, coaching changes, etc I would be bummed. Then having another set back due to injury the following year, I wouldn't wanna retire. That's pretty sh*tty. As a competitor who loves the game, you don't wanna go out like that. Then of course you have to address the 9 million dollars too...I wouldn't wanna throw that away in addition to all the aforementioned crap happening. I'm sure he believes he can come back and prove everyone wrong and make a comeback and finish his career the right way. He understands where we are coming from, but is anybody looking at it from his pov?

He's not sitting there laughing at the fans while stealing their teams money lol...this guy wants to get his name back. Nash wants to fight for his legacy and I think he has earned the chance to do so. He's got the opportunity since he's under contract and he wants to take that chance to prove it.

In regards to the money he's made throughout his career, they say athletes don't take home every dollar they make. Didn't Kobe have to have like a third of his contract taken out for a variety of things like taxes, agents, management and stuff? Not to mention spending some of it, and giving to charities as well as friends and family. Plus trying to put some in savings and paying your bills which are probably really high. Not to mention passing some of it on to his children (if he has any). When you consider that, I could understand why he wants his money.