Agent: Lakers acquire nash from suns
THE CANADIAN PRESS
Steve Nash won't be coming home to Canada.
Steve Nash's agent Bill Duffy says the two-time MVP point guard is going to the Los Angeles Lakers in a sign-and-trade deal with the Phoenix Suns.
Duffy said the deal was finalized about 6 p.m., PDT. He said a main reason for Nash choosing the Lakers was to remain close to his children, who live in Phoenix.
Nash's decision will surely cause disappointment among fans of the Toronto Raptors. Canada's only NBA team made a hard pitch to bring the 38-year-old to Toronto.
Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo reportedly made Nash a three-year offer worth US$36 million over the weekend.
According to ESPN sources, Nash will receive a three-year deal in excess of $25 million through the sign-and-trade with Phoenix. The deal involves a trade exception created after the Lakers dealt Lamar Odom to the Dallas Mavericks in December.
According to a report on the Arizona Republic's website, the Suns will receive a bounty of draft picks from L.A. for Nash, including two first-round picks, two second-round picks and $3.1 million in cash.
The New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks were also reportedly vying for Nash's services. ESPN reported earlier Wednesday that a sign-and-trade deal between the Knicks and the Suns were in talks.
Any deal can't be made official until July 11, when NBA teams can begin signing free agents.
Nash is the general manager of Canada Basketball's senior men's national team.
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