A Amare Stoudemire-Mike D'Antoni-Steve Nash reunion at Madison Square Garden? AOL Fanhouse is reporting that should the floundering Phoenix Suns decide to trade the future Hall of Famer that the New York Knicks would jump to the front of the line of potential suitors.
Despite the career year being had by free agent addition Raymond Felton, the Knicks have continued to target Nash and are prepared to make a pitch if the Suns send word that he is available. The pieces needed to land him would almost certainly be similar to those in discussion for a Carmelo Anthony deal with Denver, even if former Suns president Steve Kerr said recently that he didn't think the Knicks had enough to land either player because of the absence of draft picks available to offer.
The prospect of landing the Nuggets small forward would be the clear priority, and the status of that situation would affect the possibility of landing Nash for what the Knicks would expect to be a significantly lower price. But even with their 19-14 start and all the positivity that has come with it, the intrigue in Nash is as strong as ever.
Ironically, the premier player that Walsh did manage to land in the summer of 2010, that being forward Amar'e Stoudemire, is making New York an even more attractive destination than before for the point guard who spent six seasons with him in Phoenix perfecting the pick-and-roll.
On the Knicks' end, it doesn't hurt that Nash's contract expires in 2012 and thus fits perfectly with another part of the their possible plan: the hoped-for footrace to Madison Square Garden between New Orleans' Chris Paul and Utah's Deron Williams when they can be free agents that summer. Felton was signed last summer with that in mind, as he was given a two-year, $15 million deal.
Does it make sense for the Knicks to make a move for the 36-year-old Nash? He is playing as well as ever, averaging 16.9 points and 10.5 assists in 31 minutes per games. Raymond Felton, the Knicks current point guard, is averaging career-bests of 18.2 points and 8.7 assists per game.
At the Knicks blog 'Knick Knacks' they don't think so.
What's the point?Why trade for a 37-year-old guy who's owed $11.7 million next season, when Raymond Felton will make about half of that?
And when Felton and Stoudemire are playing so well together?
And when Felton is a far better defender than Nash ever was?
Would Nash make much more of a difference than 20-14?
We'll see how this one plays out. Of course, the Knicks remain in the hunt for Carmelo Anthony and -- obviously -- pursuing Anthony is Plan A. What do you think of Nash as a short-term Plan B?
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