The New York Knicks were among the top suitors this offseason to try and get Steve Nash to commit to them. However, their cap space is pretty limited, which restricts the type of moves they could end up making besides the mid-level exception. New York would probably have to get a little creative to get Nash more money.
However, the Toronto Raptors (who should have plenty of money) executed a pretty nifty move in free agency that might have thwarted the best efforts of the Knicks to bring Nash back. Sam Amick of Sports Illustrated talks about how the signing of Landry Fields impacts how New York can try and approach Nash.
The Raptors took their already-aggressive push to land free-agent point guard Steve Nash to the next level Tuesday, agreeing to an offer sheet with Knicks restricted free agent shooting guard Landry Fields. The offer is for about $20 million over three years.
Beyond Toronto's desire to add the 24-year-old Fields to its backcourt, sources say the move was intended to keep New York from nabbing Nash. The Knicks were known to be considering sign-and-trade options involving Fields and Nash's former team, the Suns, as a way to pay Nash more than the $3 million mid-level exception. But because of the Raptors' offer sheet, the Knicks can no longer use Fields in such a scenario. New York will now have three days to match the offer after Fields signs it on July 11. If the Knicks match, they lose the option to trade Fields.
Talk about Fields and Nash with Raptors fans at Raptors HQ, and with Knicks fans at Posting and Toasting.
Check out the SB Nation NBA YouTube channel and see if you'd be willing to subscribe to the videos.