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sorry bout dem bad news, Rogelio...
sorry bout dem bad news, Rogelio...
Rogeli?
Real talk: that tired old SOB needs to retire. SMDH
SHHHHHH!If Mike D'Antoni is correct, we may have very well seen the last of Steve Nash as an active NBA player.
Today after morning shootaround, the Lakers head coach was asked if he expected his former All-Star point guard to make a return this season. To that, D'Antoni replied:
"I doubt it," D'Antoni said after the Lakers' shootaround Monday when asked if Nash would play again this season with 23 games remaining, starting with the Trail Blazers on Monday night. "I don't think so. What's the end game? We've talked about it. He's not completely healthy. We have 23 games left. We're not going to make the playoffs. So what's his objective into taking minutes away from the young guys that we're trying to develop? That's kind of the theme that we're talking about."
If indeed MDA's assertion is right, then Nash could see his 17 year career end with a fizzle rather than a victorious explosion. The point guard will potentially finish up with just 10 games played this season and statistical career lows almost across the board.
As it's been a lingering question around the Lakers in this lost season, D'Antoni's admission today isn't particularly surprising. The sordid truth is that Nash has been rehabbing an injury that kept him out of half of last season's games for almost a year and a half now with mixed results that have left him a s of the player he used to be. He's been quoted many times as openly admitting how difficult rehab has been and the disparity of time spent getting healthy to the paltry amount of games in which he could remain on the floor without being hurt. With or without the question today, there's little doubt amongst most observers that this would be Nash's last season.
In terms of LA's future obligations to him, the team owes him over $9 million this year and $9.7 next season, which the team would likely have to eat rather than using the stretch provision that would parse out the cap hit over three years. As many have discussed, a medical retirement would have been possible with under 10 games played this year and a doctor's corroboration that indeed Nash could not remain an active player. This of course would have taken his cap figure off of next year's salary sheet. It's an unfortunate reality for the Lakers, who now will most likely won't be able to grab maximum-level free agent cap room without relinquishing the rights to nearly all of their free agents (more than 2/3 of their current roster). This will make this summer's pitches to LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony more futile than they were in the first place.
If D'Antoni is accurate, it's a sad end to the career of one of the game's great compe ors, a surefire Hall of Famer and one of the greatest point guards ever to live. Lakers fans never really got to see the same player that terrorized them for years in Phoenix, a costly personnel move that's not only hamstrung the team financially, but also in the draft picks sent away in order to acquire him. It's truly unfortunate that Nash's legacy in LA will not be as great as the career he may have just finished up.
^Still & all we must pay him the $10 million next year. The stretch provision is Chinese water torture. Forget it. Just strive to get him onto the court and pray he can help keep us out of the Lottery.
He won't even make it 20 games in.
We got nary other choice. He won't quit. So we're down to two choices=stretch him OR play him. That provision would be a consideration if we had that pick, but, we don't. So, we have to put forth forced labor for really no tangible purpose,,,just to spite the Suns and keep that pick from going Lottery, like we did last season when Kobe went maniacal to keep that one from going Lottery.
Playing him won't keep that pick from the lottery.
I'll risk it.
But Cubby the Lakers probably don't have the hatred for the suns that you do
True, but, they didn't go crazy last season pursuing that 8th spot for s & giggles. Just because they didn't talk about (it) like I did & do doesn't mean they weren't committed to denying it last season, or, next season. They're human just like me. They watched the standings & schedule and crunched the numbers just like I did.
I can see him getting salary-dumped...
He's already played 10 games this year. IIIRC, we can no longer use the stretch provision on him. In the 10th game, he got hurt after playing a few minutes. SMH
I don't want to depend on him at all going forward. That nerve root issue from his broken leg will prevent him from even being a s of himself. I think he's done tbh.
I think you're mistaken, LF. I believe after the 10th game played we could no longer get the medical waiver.
For some reason I thought it was if he played 10 games, we're screwed. My bad.
It could get upright quickly with a decent choice with the draft pick, $20 million to sign some players and Kobe coming back. And if Nash heals by November it won't look near as incredible.For some reason I thought it was if he played 10 games, we're screwed. My bad.
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