Los Angeles Lakers: The uncertainty that is Steve Nash
Nov 7, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Lakers point guard Steve Nash (10) warms up against the Houston Rockets before the game at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports
Editor’s note: This is a guess post from Justin Becker of FantasyBasketballMoneyLeagues.com. You can follow him on twitter at @NBAFantasyInfo, and for more information on the NBA visit Fantasy Basketball Money Leagues – your online source for anything about fantasy basketball.
It’s ben said that it’s better for a superstar to exit at his peak rather than on his dawn. Apparently, that’s not the case with Steve Nash. Not only didn’t Nash choose to retire when his career started to go south, but he appeared to be determined to continue and play, wearing out his body and his fans’ patience. So what’s the future like for him? Will he be able to contribute for the Lakers once again?
First of all, Steve Nash has appeared in only six games thus far this season for the Lakers, averaging numbers way below his career-averages. He is putting up 6.7 points, 4.8 assists and 1.5 rebounds. He is, or was, shooting 26.1 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from 3-point land. Do you need more proof that he is done? To put it in other words, do the Los Angeles Lakers really need a player like him on their roster?
Well, that’s another story. It’s also another story why the Lakers’ management chose to sign Steve Nash for a total of three seasons, when he will be 40 years old, offering him more than $9 million a year. So what have the Los Angeles Lakers made out of this deal? Right now, Nash is their biggest burden on the team.
The real question is: Will Steve Nash be able to return to action at some point? Maybe.
In fact, we might see him once again in the lineup in the next few weeks, although the latest reports state that Nash is experiencing yet another setback in his rehabilitation process. A few days ago, Head Coach Mike D’Antoni stated that he expected both Nash and Kobe Bryant to be ready in a few days. Now, it’s obvious that he will remain sidelined for even more days, maybe even weeks.
Although Steve Nash, earlier in the season, sounded really determined to return to action and make his presence felt, there was/is no indication that this can be achieved. He is constantly battling injuries, and time is not on his side. In a few days from now, he will turn 40.
It still remains a mystery where the future will find him. That being said, Steve Nash still seems to be focused on working his way back. He was excited that he would finally get a chance to return to action. Nonetheless, lots of people around the league clearly see that Nash’s time in the NBA is almost over, and there is no reason for him or the team to try and squeeze his body till the very last drop.
After all, the Los Angeles Lakers seem to be in tank mode this season, not that they can really help it at this point. Even if there was a magic way for Steve Nash to return to the lineup and be as productive as he was last season, that wouldn’t make much of a difference for the team. On the contrary, it’s much more rational for him to seriously consider retirement, thus opening the way for young, emerging players like Kendall Marshall or Manny Harris to see more playing time.
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