Thursday, June 23, 2011

Steve Nash again expresses desire to stay in Phoenix

PHOTO CREDIT DNAinfo/Patrick Hedlund
 On the eve of his annual charity soccer event in New York City, Steve Nash was again answering questions of whether or not he would like to play somewhere else or finish his career where it started, in Phoenix.  And again he made it clear that he has a loyalty to the Suns, the city, and the fans to stay and try and bring that elusive championship to the Valley.


 "When you're in a situation (where) you've given a lot of you career to one franchise, you feel at home there. I feel a loyalty to my team, our community in Phoenix. I want us to try to get back and try to compete for a championship like we did two seasons ago so that's kind of all I think about. So I don't plan on leaving."

Nash has been popping up in numerous trade rumors in the days leading up to the NBA Draft.  The Suns have the 13th selection in the first round, and depending on which route the front office decides to go with their selection, could be an indication of the direction the franchise is heading.  Will they go for a defensive stopper, a post player who can rebound, or a wing that can score and create his own shots.  Factor in that the next week will be the last opportunity that teams have to make trades for quite some time, with the impending lockout July 1st, and this is a crucial period for the club.  This year's draft isn't particularly strong and after the first couple of picks, it's really hit or miss as to whether or not there will actually be an impact player available.  Couple that with the fact that the front-office has been absolutely atrocious the past decade in regards to selling and trading draft picks, and it doesnt inspire much confidence across Planet Orange.  Suns G.M. Lance Blanks seems determined to change the identity of the organization and become more defensive minded.  With every year that passes, they seem to get farther and farther away from the fast-breaking, free-wheeling team that was beloved by basketball fans across the country.  At the helm of that operation has been the Hall of Fame point guard who will be 38 years old by the middle of the 2011-12 season.  Many think that if the Suns are going to move Nash, now is as good a time as ever if they expect to get something of value in return.  The New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Portland TrailBlazers and Toronto Raptors have all inquired about landing his services, only to be turned away vehemently every time.  However Nash is the Suns biggest draw - he puts butts in the seats - and moving him is a clear sign to the fanbase that it is time to re-build.  Robert Sarver has already made it clear that he has no clue how to run a basketball team, so fans can only hope that Lon Babby and Lance Blanks have even the smallest inkling what they are doing.  The resistance the organization felt after the loss of Amar'e Stoudemire last summer would be paltry compared to the full fledged mutiny that would emcompass the loss of #13.  For their sake and that of basketball loyalists across Arizona, let's hope that front office can finally get something right.

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