NBA Trade Rumors: Suns Are Foolish Not to Trade Steve Nash - Bleacher Report

Steve Nash's usefulness to the Phoenix Suns has come to an end. It is time for them to turn this still elite point guard into some assets that can help their future. 

Nash will be a free agent at the end of the year, and he is having another stellar year. At 38, he just became the oldest All-Star point guard in NBA history. He is averaging 13.9 points and 10.9 assists per game. 

Both of those numbers are down from last year, and it is clear that his time as an NBA star is running out, but that time has not come yet. Nash is still a valuable commodity to contending teams and the Suns need to capitalize on that. 

It does not appear they are ready to do that. 

The Rumors

Paul Coro of AZCentral.com sheds some light on the situation. 

"It's up to the team," Nash said. "I'm happy where I am. I'm not happy with our record. I feel like I made a commitment to the fans and my teammates. But at the same time, I'd understand if the team wanted to make a move, so I'm completely open. To be honest, I just occupy myself with trying to prepare to play and play as well as I can."

The Suns have made it clear that he would not be traded unless he asked for it.

This is certainly admirable on both sides, but that doesn't mean it is the right call. Both sides are putting it on the other to make the tough call to part ways, and neither side appears ready to make that call. 

The Suns need to just step up and do it. 

Why the Suns Must Trade Nash

Phoenix isn't going anywhere. They are just 14-20, and in the top heavy Western Conference they are all but eliminated from the playoffs already. 

The fact they have struggled is not surprising. This is a patchwork roster with no plan or direction in sight. 

This team needs a major overhaul to once again be a contender. Nash is too old to see that process out. 

While the Suns would have the luxury of having Nash's contract come off the books at the end of the season, they are going to have to overpay to get players to join that depleted roster. 

Their best chance to maximize their value here is to deal Nash. He has plenty of value to teams in contention. The Suns could land some young talent and draft picks, and be in much better shape for the future than they are now. 

26 Feb, 2012