PROTECT THE PAINT

Steve Nash will sign a two-year contract extension, keeping him in Phoenix until 2012 when will be 38 years old.

The two-time NBA MVP’s decision raises many questions behind the motives of his move, and what implications this has on the Suns future moves.

Nash has some quality years left, but for Phoenix? (Credit: picapp.com)

Lets look at the questions and the reality of the situation.

THE QUESTIONS: Do the Suns trade Amare before he can leave via free agency? They could get a lot to retool with for 2010-11 if they trade him. Amare is not be happy on anything less than a title contender, leaving his future uncertain. He will be happy being the primary big now that Shaq is gone. If the Suns are not championship caliber, he will most likely leave them for a team that is in 2010-11. The Suns will trade him before that happens.

Does signing Steve Nash mean they will surround him with enough talent to contend prior to the start of this season? Based on the likelihood of Amare’s departure it is essential that Phoenix continue to deal. If Amare is traded, expect Nash to be dealt promptly after as he will not want to end his career on a rebuilding team.

Is Nash’s contract part of a bigger sign and trade ploy? Having Nash on the hook past next year increases his trade value. Unlike most expiring contracts Nash can still play. Two-time NBA MVP point guards are rare, and command value. Although highly unlikely, if Phoenix deals him and Stoudemire, they can get more trade value for Nash if teams know that he cannot bail after 1 year.

"Get me outta here!" (Credit: picapp.com)

THE REALITY

Steve Nash (35), Leandro Barbosa (26), Stoudemire (26), Jason Richardson (28), and Grant Hill (36) are not going to win you an NBA title. This is a decent core, but they are all getting older. Their supporting cast falls off hard at every position. If Barbosa starts, the bench becomes a non-factor.

It would require Goran Dragic and Earl Clark undergoing miraculous overnight development, Channing Frye resurrecting his career before cementing his legacy as a lottery bust, and Sasha Pavlovic  draining from beyond the arc to help the Suns turn things around.

This is where harsh reality sinks in, and all hope dwindles. Phoenix appears to have a smaller chance at making the playoffs this year than last.

"Did I really sign on for 2 more years of this?" (Credit: picapp.com)

Expect the Phoenix Suns to be making moves prior to the trade deadline, or Nash and Stoudemire to possibly be dealt before the year begins. Worst case scenario, Stoudamire leaves at seasons end, and Nash shortly contacts his agent thereafter. Best case scenario, this is the eight seed in the playoffs.

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