Nash to Lakers, 4 draft picks and trade exemption to Suns Options

[Balta1701-B]

In an unforeseen twist that could thrust the Los Angeles Lakers straight back into title contention, two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash has successfully negotiated a sign-and-trade deal from the Phoenix Suns to the Lakers that will team him up with Kobe Bryant.

Sources told ESPN.com that Nash, with the New York Knicks also pressing hard to complete a similar sign-and-trade deal, was swayed to join the Lakers after a determined push from Bryant and because the move keeps him in the title hunt and allows him to stay in close proximity to his three children in Phoenix.

Nash will receive a three-year deal in excess of $25 million, sources said, because the Suns ultimately agreed to sign-and-trade him to the Lakers, who can absorb Nash via the trade exception they created by dealing Lamar Odom to the Dallas Mavericks in December.

In return, the Suns get four draft picks -- first rounders in 2013 and 2015 and second rounders in 2013 and 2014.

Nash's agent, Bill Duffy, said the deal was finalized about 6 p.m., PDT

Clearly PG was a need for the Lakers, but this deal is a problem for them in another way, it makes them older and not younger. Can they really get by the Thunder by adding Steve Nash and getting that much older?

Either way, its definitely a go-for-broke with their current roster type move.

[madisonsmadhouse]

Well I'd rather see the Lakers than the Heat, so this doesn't bother me.

[Jake]

It's not a terrible move, but it's an open acknowledgement that the window is closing. They won't have much to build around in 2-3 seasons. Bynum and that's it, maybe a really old, overpaid Kobe.