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Does Steve Nash have any interest in playing for the Knicks?

San Antonio Spurs v Phoenix Suns

PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 25: Steve Nash #13 of the Phoenix Suns high fives fans as he is introduced before the NBA game against the San Antonio Spurs at US Airways Center on April 25, 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Spurs defeated the Suns 110-106. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Christian Petersen

In New York, it has just kind of assumed that Steve Nash wants to come there. Because New Yorkers assume everyone wants to come there, play there — that everyone wishes they were New Yorkers.

Not the case. And it may not be the case with Steve Nash.

In a twitter discussion yesterday, Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com tweeted this:

Hearing that Nash won’t want to come to NY. We can likely kiss that notion goodbye.

That was responded to by Moke Hamilton (writer for SheridanHoops.com among other sites) saying he heard New York was on the short list for Nash.

The problem for the Knicks getting Nash starts with money — they don’t have any. They have a mid-level exception but they will need to use that to keep Jeremy Lin (unless the Knicks luck out and the union wins in arbitration). After that, all the Knicks could offer is the veteran minimum. (Which is why the Knicks will not land Lamar Odom either, well that and they already have Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire who can play the four.)

If Nash is chasing a ring and willing to play for the veteran minimum, he can get that with the Heat. And he’d be closer to getting a title there than in New York. (Lakers fans, you have less of a chance than the Knicks. Let it go.)

My lean right now is he goes nowhere; he looks at his options and signs to stay in Phoenix. If he does leave, and if Dallas cannot land Deron Williams, that opens up as an option. But I don’t see New York. Nash loves it there, lives there in the off-season, but that’s different than signing up to play for the circus that is the team in Madison Square Garden.