Music: {allcanada} Nash will explore options in free agency

Thursday, March 29, 2012

{allcanada} Nash will explore options in free agency

Steve Nash wants to play for a winning basketball team at this stage in his career.

Nash told the Dan Patrick Show on Tuesday morning that he will not return to the Phoenix Suns if the organization does not make a clear effort to improve the roster.

"I definitely do want to win," Nash said. "I'm not going to come back to the Suns if there isn't an improvement, if they're not ambitious and they're not looking to upgrade the roster seriously."

The Victoria, B.C., native said he would clearly consider a return to the Suns under the right circumstances but will explore all his options once he becomes an free agent this summer.

"(The Suns) have a lot of flexibility in free agency," Nash said. "I've been standing pat in many ways so they could do some things this summer. I think they'll become a definite possibility for me, but I do want to win and I do want to consider all my options so it'll be interesting to see what happens this summer.

"It's going to be interesting this summer. Being a free agent, I didn't really want to leave at the deadline. I felt I owed it to my teammates and the Suns organization and the fans. I could possibly be back for sure, but that will be more interesting than the trade deadline."

Once the NBA free agency period begins on July 11. the 38-year-old will be one of hottest commodities on the market.

Nash, who has never won an NBA title, has clearly placed a high priority on winning and said he would "definitely listen" if he received an offer from the Miami Heat to join up with Chris Bosh, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade.

"I would listen. LeBron is phenomenal," Nash explained. "I love what they're doing there. A lot of people don't like them because they put all that talent together. But they're professional, they play hard, they play together and their coaching staff has done a great job. So, I have a tremendous amount of respect for them, and I would definitely listen."

It is unclear which teams will be interested in Nash's services but it's clear that Nash will have a difficult decision to make in July.

"At this stage in my career, there's going to be so many options to consider," Nash said. "It's going to be an interesting free agent summer. For me in particular, there's going to be a lot of things to consider."

Nash, who has won two MVP awards with Phoenix, is averaging 12.9 points and 11.2 assists in 47 games with the Suns this season.

The Suns have a 25-26 record and currently sit in 10th place in the Western Conference.