Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Nash goes to Lakers in sign-and-trade deal

STEVE NASH won't be coming home to Canada.

The point guard's agent says the two-time NBA MVP is going to the Los Angeles Lakers in a sign-and-trade deal with the Phoenix Suns.

Nash, who spent the past eight seasons with the Suns, was a free agent but a sign-and-trade agreement was necessary for the Lakers to afford him.

Bill Duffy says his client agreed to a three-year, US$27-million contract. In return, the Suns get four draft picks -- first rounders in 2013 and 2015 and second rounders in 2013 and 2014.

Duffy said the deal was finalized last evening. He said a main reason for the Victoria-raised player choosing the Lakers was to remain close to his children, who live in Phoenix.

Nash's decision will surely cause disappointment among fans of the Toronto Raptors. Canada's only NBA team made a pitch to bring the veteran point guard to Toronto. Nash is also the general manager of Canada Basketball's senior men's national team.

Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo reportedly made Nash a three-year offer worth $36 million over the weekend.

The deal will team him with Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum and at least for now, Pau Gasol.Los Angeles hasn't had an elite point guard alongside Bryant for several seasons, failing to address Derek Fisher's gradual decline while the rest of the West got better. The Lakers got sub-par play last season from Fisher, 37, who was traded to Houston at the deadline.

Nash has never made it to the NBA Finals.

-- CP/AP

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 5, 2012 D4

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