Before the Los Angeles Lakers took on the Atlanta Hawks last Sunday at Staples Center, the first major trade rumor surrounding one of the Lakers’ biggest stars surfaced leading to speculation that the team may be ready to make a change.
Two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash was the player rumored to be on the trading block with the Toronto Raptors potentially interested in acquiring the veteran point guard. With the Lakers seemingly always involved in some sort of trade speculation every single year, the rumor came as no surprise to many with Nash struggling to stay healthy and clearly not the same player at 39.
On Tuesday, Nash made an appearance on The Jim Rome Show and was asked about already being mentioned in a trade rumor. Nash said the following about the trade speculation:
“Well, that’s something that all players have faced in their career. After 18 years, I don’t put much into the rumor mill. I expect to be here and I feel like I’m climbing out of the injuries. I want to be the player I was and I hope that’s here in LA.”
With Nash not exactly being the player the Lakers expected when they pulled off the sign-and-trade with the division rival Phoenix Suns, the team may ultimately try and move the soon-to-be 40-year-old before the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 20.
Even though Nash may be on the block, the Lakers will find it incredibly tough to convince another team to take on his contract. Nash will earn $9.3 million this season and $9.7 million next season.
One of the reasons the Raptors may be interested in Nash is due to the fact he may help sell tickets. As a native Canadian, Nash is very popular in Canada and that may be the driving force behind the team’s interest in acquiring the future Hall of Famer.
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