The Lakers went into the off season and a talent rich free
agency with enormous question marks in four different aspects of the team and
completely pushing the limits of the new CBA meaning Los Angeles could only
offer veteran’s minimum (1.4 million a year), the new mini-mid level exception
(3.6 million a year) and a trade exception they got from Dallas for Lamar Odom.
With General Manager Mitch Kupchak publicly stating that the team will try
not to use the mini-mid level exception unless the value of the player outweighs
the amount of the contract, options were very limited for the Lakers.
Then, on July 4th, Mitch made magic happen.
The Lakers and the Suns agreed on a sign and trade with Steve Nash going to
L.A. and the Suns receiving 4 draft picks (two first round picks in 2013 and
2015 and two second round picks in 2013 and 2014). Los Angeles had to use Lamar
Odom’s trade exception (Thanks, Lamar!) to be able to afford Nash on the books.
After that huge splash to start the Lakers’ free agency,
the snowball just kept growing for L.A. The Dwight Howard trade aside, Los
Angeles managed to persuade some high quality veterans to the club using only the
veteran’s minimum for a few reasons: Kobe Bryant, the opportunity to win a
championship, and most importantly, Steve Nash was the team’s new point guard.
The Lakers finally have an All-Star caliber; pass first
point guard, something the team hasn't had since 1991 with Magic Johnson
leading the Lakers to a Finals appearance. Nash is a player that makes sure the
right player gets the ball at the right time. This is huge for shooters, and
one of the big reasons the Lakers were able to get veteran big man Antawn Jamison
and three point specialist Jodie Meeks for the veteran’s minimum.
Everybody knows Nash’s resumé: He’s an incredible talent
at the point guard position, he’s a player who provides stability, knowledge,
experience and quality minutes at a position that was manned by Derek Fisher,
Steve Blake and Ramon Sessions for most of the season. He’s a very efficient
offensive player that has a special vision of the game, provides great passing
and shooting to add more firepower to the Lakers’ back court.
Nash is one of
five players to join the 50-40-90 club (50% FG, 40% from deep, 90% from the
stripe) since the NBA introduced the three-point line. He joins elite company
with Larry Bird, Reggie Miller, Dirk Nowitzki, and Mark Price being the only other
members and Larry Bird being the only other player to have multiple 50-40-90 seasons
(Bird has two; Nash has four).
But Nash provides more than just numbers. He’s a player
that makes everyone around him better and more involved within the offensive
system. Mike Brown is notorious for having offenses that do not move the ball,
but rely on the star player to make something happen out of nothing. It
happened with Cleveland and LeBron James and it happened last season during the
playoffs with Kobe Bryant. Nash helps correct this problem, as he brings a team
first attitude and mentality, and allows all of the players to play off the
ball and not have to create their own shots.
It was a huge off season for the Lakers, as nearly every
hole was addressed while spending the minimum. The pressure has shifted from
teams like Oklahoma City and Miami. Thankfully, the Lakers are used to pressure
and the spotlight.
