Steve Nash to the Lakers for 3-years- $27 Million

Laker fans should be celebrating. The team is finally getting a quality point guard after all this time. In a surprise deal, the Lakers and Phoenix Suns will complete a sign-and-trade for the services of Steve Nash. Due to the trade exception that the Lakers received from the Mavericks in the Lamar Odom trade last season, Nash will sign a 3-year- $27 million.

The Suns will receive first-round picks in 2013 and 2015 and second-round picks in 2013 and 2014 plus $3 million in cash from the Lakers.

“After talking with (owner) Robert (Sarver) and (president of basketball operations) Lon (Babby) we’ve agreed that it’s time for both of us to move in new directions,” Nash said in a statement. “I approached them and asked if they would be willing to do a sign and trade deal with L.A. because it is very important to me to stay near my children and family.

“They were very apprehensive and didn’t want to do it. Fortunately for me, they reconsidered. They saw that they were able to get assets for their team that will make them better, assets they would not have otherwise had and it made sense for them to do a deal that helps their team get better.”

Nash earned nearly $12 million last season and averaged 12.5 points and 10.7 assists for a team that, with no 20-point scorer. Never count the Lakers out. They’re reloaded and have addressed their most pressing need. A few decent bench players and once again, the Lakers are in contenders.