Robert Sarver Must Buck Up To Take Advantage Of Steve Nash & Phoenix Suns

The Associated Press reports on the Phoenix Suns trading Kurt Thomas to the Seattle Supersonics:

The Seattle SuperSonics acquired veteran forward Kurt Thomas and the Phoenix Suns’ first-round draft choices in 2008 and 2010 on Friday in exchange for a conditional second-round draft choice.

Seattle also sent Phoenix its $8 million trade exception to complete the deal. The Sonics gained the exception from Orlando earlier this month when they completed a sign-and-trade deal that sent Rashard Lewis to the Magic.

Seattle also sent Phoenix its $8 million trade exception to complete the deal. The Sonics gained the exception from Orlando earlier this month when they completed a sign-and-trade deal that sent Rashard Lewis to the Magic.

Thomas, who turns 35 in October, averaged a career-low 4.6 points per game in 67 games last season while averaging just 18 minutes. But he does provide the veteran presence Seattle was seeking to tutor Kevin Durant and Jeff Green, the second and fifth overall selections in last month’s draft.

My Quick Take: Robert Sarver, Phoenix’s owner, has a choice: save or spend?

Sarver could continue to save money by cutting salaries. After all, the NBA is a business and Phoenix, as one of the league’s small market teams, are right around the luxury tax limit. Or Sarver could use the trade exception and also spend some money on the final pieces needed to win an NBA Title.

Personally, I believe the eccentric owner has a fiduciary duty to maximize Steve Nash’s years in Phoenix. The wee point guard has been playing the one-spot as well as anybody in the history of the game.  

If Earving Johnson is Magic, then Nash is White Magic. Bob Cousy, John Stockton, and Isiah Thomas have nothing on the low-key Canadian.

But it won’t last forever. Nash is 33. His body is showing subtle signs of age. And when Nash starts to decline in a few years, the Suns title hopes will fade in the Arizona desert.

Sarver must realize how special his team is and spend on the final pieces. Once the window has closed on the Nash-era, he’ll have plenty of time to worry about salary caps, luxury taxes, and a less competitive team. By choosing wisely today, he could have a championship ring to ease those future worries. 

Click here to read and subscribe to Oly Sandor’s NBA Blog.