SAN FRANCISCO -- With the NBA free agency market in full frenzy, the Los Angeles Lakers quickly emerged as one of the big winners by signing 7-time All-Star Steve Nash to a three-year deal worth a reported $27 million.
Nash, a two-time league MVP and future Hall-of-Famer, addresses LA's lack of point guard play which led to its early playoffs demise last May at the hands of the young and athletic Oklahoma City Thunder, who represented the Western Conference in the NBA Finals before losing to the Miami Heat in five games.
The 6-foot-3, 175-pound Nash owns 16 years of NBA experience under his belt and has logged a total of 36,129 minutes in 1,152 regular season games. His career averages are 14.5 points and 8.6 assists per game. He shoots 42.8 percent above the 3-point arc and a stunning 90.4 percent from the free throw line.
Nash, who turned 38 last February, continues to play at an extremely high level, After deciding to leave the Phoenix Suns after a seven-year stint, Nash was aggressively courted by the New York Knicks and the Toronto Raptors.
The Raptors' contract offer was especially sweet -- 3 years for $36 million. In the end, however, Nash felt that he had a greater chance of winning a coveted ring with the Los Angeles Lakers than in his native Canada. After all, Nash's new backcourt partner is some guy named Kobe Bryant, a five-time NBA champion.
But the Lakers are not done yet. The storied purple-and-gold franchise is eyeing a few more able and reliable bodies to shore up its frontline and challenge what is deemed by many as a budding dynasty in the Oklahoma City Thunder.
According to ESPN.com, the Lakers are interested in Antawn Jamison, Elton Brand and Jermaine O'Neal,
Jamison would be a nice addition to spruce up LA's sometimes arid offense. The 36-year old Jamison shot a poor 40.2 percent from the field last season in Cleveland but he continues to be a volume scorer and averaged 17.2 points per.
Elton Brand was just amnestied by the Philadelphia 76ers for $18 million. At 32, the 6-foot-9, 254-pound Brand was a fixture in Philadelphia's playoffs run that ended in May against the Boston Celtics. Brand averaged 11 points and 7.2 rebounds per last season.
Jermaine O'Neal, 33, played only 25 games with Boston following wrist surgery. O'Neal is possibly past his prime, but the Lakers could use his big body, inside scoring and defense. (Ryan Medida)
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