Los Angeles Lakers’ Steve Nash Has Trade Value In the Upcoming Season
Kirby Lee – USA TODAY Sports
Steve Nash is due to make a lot of money in the final year of his contract playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. Unfortunately, Nash has been unable to stay healthy his past two years in Los Angeles, and at age 40, there is not much hope for him to last a full season.
He has yet to justify the enormous amount of money that he is currently being paid since being traded to the Lakers. The good news is that, when Nash is healthy, he has shown that he can still contribute meaningful minutes, and may be used as trade bait in the upcoming season.
Nash’s large salary might seem like a difficult piece to trade, but it is a huge expiring contract that teams would love to have come off the books after the season is over. There are several teams that are still rebuilding and do not have a lot of hope for next season. With Nash on the roster, they get a savvy veteran who can provide leadership, but also have the opportunity to clear more salary space to pursue an impact free agent in the next offseason. It cannot be underestimated how important expiring contracts are to some organizations, especially those desperate to make big moves.
Nash can also be a key role player on a contending team. He is a great outside shooter who can excel both on and off the ball, and who opposing teams must always be aware of. He is a great passer who still possesses excellent vision in creating opportunities for teammates. Maybe even more important, he is a great teammate who will do anything to help his team win. He understands where he is in his career, but constantly uses his abilities to make everyone around him better.
The Lakers may not want to trade Nash, but if he is able to stay healthy for a chunk of the season, they may be able to get valuable assets in return. Nash has been a true professional since joining the team, but his large salary has made it hard for the team to make certain moves this offseason.
The Lakers should not be afraid to turn his expiring contract into important pieces moving forward.
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