The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly looking into the possibility of trading Steve Nash to the Toronto Raptors this season, a reliable league source disclosed on Monday.
Nash, who will turn 40 in February, has been the subject of trade rumors ever since Dwight Howard decided to join the Houston Rockets last summer.
With the Lakers officially in rebuilding mode, the purple-and-gold are expected to trade their remaining assets - such as Pau Gasol and Steve Nash - in exchange for young talents or perhaps future draft picks.
Canadian Back in Home Land
In previous interviews, Nash did not rule out the possibility of someday playing for Toronto before he finally calls it a career. Now, it looks like the Canadian will get his wish sooner as reports indicated the Lakers are searching for a trade partner to dispose Nash and his contract.
Like the Lakers, the Raptors are also planning to unload several big contracts in an attempt to get picks for next year's loaded draft. Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri stressed that he's currently evaluating all players on his roster, except second-year center Jonas Valanciunas.
"I always feel like ... that's for within. Will it become obvious? Yes. Why not just say it? For me to come out and say this is how I want to do this, no, I have to evaluate what we have here first," Ujiri told the National Post.
In short, borderline All-Stars Rudy Gay, DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowrie and Terrence Ross could all be traded at some point this season.
Toronto previously made a run at Nash a couple of years ago, but the Lakers nabbed the two-time MVP from the Phoenix Suns via trade. Now with Nash reportedly on trading block, the Raptors are anticipated to try one more time to get their home town hero.
Gay in Purple-and-Gold
Gay, who averaged 17 points and 9.3 rebounds through the first three games of the season, could be one of the trading chips in exchange for Nash.
"Steve Nash is another vet who may be traded this year. I've heard Toronto as a possible landing spot for Nash from multiple league sources," HoopsWorld reported Alex Kennedy posted on his Twitter account on Monday.
If this negotiation pushes through, the Lakers will have another offensive weapon in Gay alongside Gasol and returning All-Star shooting guard Kobe Bryant to make another playoff push this season.
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