Steve Nash

ESPN.com Reports:
After receiving an improved offer last week and taking a few more days to deliberate, two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash notified the Phoenix Suns over the weekend that he is accepting the Suns' two-year extension offer worth an estimated $22 million, according to team sources.

Sources told ESPN.com that Nash is expected to formally announce his decision via his Twitter feed later Monday

One team official confirmed that the Suns were aware that Nash strongly considered the idea of playing out his contract next season, which would have enabled him to join the ballyhooed free-agent class of 2010 and possibly move to the New York Knicks to reunite with former coach Mike D'Antoni. Nash, though, ultimately opted for security with the franchise that drafted him out of Santa Clara in 1996 and gave him the platform to earn the nickname "Two-Time" from teammates with his back-to-back MVP seasons in 2005 and 2006 after leaving the Dallas Mavericks to rejoin the Suns in the summer of 2004.

The market is tough out there right now, can't really blame him for wanting the guaranteed cash, the guy is getting older, but I really thought he would want to get back in that D'Antoni system that got him two MVPs

Lets see how this affects the other 2010 FA's now that the 2010 caps appear to be changing...

At All star weekend 2005 Amare Stoudemire threw the ball off the backboard to Steve Nash who gently touched it with his head back to Stoudemire for a dunk. A 20 year old LeBron James commented, "Steve Nash shouldn't be able to pass to anyone because he can pass with his hands, head and feet."

Since that weekend Nash has picked up a couple pieces of hardware that read MVP and furthered his reputation as one of the League's most adept and unselfish passers.

So where does that leave him when he's a free agent in 2010? Well, his New York connections are plenty; owns an apartment in Tribeca, has spent the past 5 summers in NYC, plays in Soccer Leagues at Chelsea Piers on Manhattan's west side, plays pick up soccer in Central Park, his wife Alejandra (pictured with LBJ at left) loves New York, he loves New York's coach...the list goes on.

After stating that it's too far away to know anything for sure, Nash said, "But New York speaks for itself, the Knicks are a storied franchise. Obviously, the mecca of basketball. There are a lot of positives (signing there). I love the city. Obviously, I have a great relationship with Mike D'Antoni." He then gave his obligatory, 'but I'm with Phoenix right now...' that all professional athletes not named Terrel Owens are trained to say.

However, Nash is not getting younger, on July 1, 2010 he'll be 36. Much is written about his potential willingness to accept mid level or veterans exception that day, thus putting another piece of the puzzle in place without greatly affecting the Knicks' salary cap.

As Steve Nash and the Suns come to the Garden tonight I hear that constant reminder of how much players love D'Antoni's system. By now it's no secret that players aspire to play in a fast paced open court system like D'Antoni's, I don't think you could go out there and find even a handful of players that will tell you otherwise.

One of the most notable draws D'Antoni could have is on Steve Nash- who has been quoted about how he misses playing for him. Back in May when asked about D'Antoni moving on to NY Nash not only said how he liked him as a coach, but how he wished he could give it one more go with him, “I’m definitely sad to see him go. It was four of the most memorable and fun years of my career. Mike is a great person and a great coach. I thought we could come together for another try..."

Lets be completely honest, these Knicks are no better than a .500 team at the absolute best with the talent they have right now, so why would guys like Nash, Kidd, LeBron, etc. all allude to the fact that they have interest?- one of the main draws is Mike D'Antoni.

The post even reported today: "Nash, the Suns' star point guard, was a guest on Late Night with Conan O'Brien last night, and in the much-anticipated summer of 2010, Nash could be a major Knicks target.This offseason, Jason Kidd will be a free agent and he's expressed interest in the Knicks, even acknowledging he would have to accept the mid-level exception. If that doesn't happen, Nash could potentially join someone like LeBron James here in 2010, since the Knicks should have enough cap room for two stars."

Lets hope the stars align.