steve nash

The Knicks met with Steve Nash on Sunday knowing that they face an uphill battle in their pursuit of the future Hall of Fame point guard.

Nash also met with the Toronto Raptors on the first day of free agency and the club reportedly offered the Canadian citizen a three-year contract worth approximately $36 million.

The Knicks can only offer Nash a contract starting at $3 million annually unless they can engage the Phoenix Suns in a sign-and-trade. It’s unlikely since the Suns seem more inclined to use the money freed up by Nash leaving to pursue other free agents. Phoenix president Lon Babby has set up meetings this week in Los Angeles with point guards Raymond Felton and Goran Dragic as well as shooting guard Eric Gordon.

Phoenix hasn’t entirely ruled out re-signing Nash but it seems more and more likely that the two-time MVP won’t return to the Suns.

– Reported by Frank Isola of the New York Daily News