Steve Nash may have seen the court for the last time this season but coach Mke D'Antoni s of the mind there's always next year.
With just 23 games remaining, D'Antoni recently told ESPN he doesn't expect the former two-time league MVP back on the court this season, but added "we'll see" when asked if Nash might be back next season.
"We've talked about it," D'Antoni told ESPN of Nash's long-term plans. "He's not completely healthy. We have 23 games left. We're not going to make the playoffs. So what's his objective into taking minutes away from the young guys that we're trying to develop? That's kind of the theme that we're talking about."
Meanwhile, Nash still holds out hope for a return this season. "I couldn't really make a prediction," he said. "If I get the chance, it would be great."
After playing in four early February games, Nash has been sidelined with nerve irritation in his back. The two-time league MVP has averaged 7.6 points and 4.7 assists in 10 games this season while shooting just 36 percent from the floor and 31.6 percent from 3 -- well below his career marks of 14.3 points, 8.5 assists, 49 percent shooting and 42.8 percent from deep.
Nash has one year remaining on his contract with the Lakers, that will pay him $9.7 million next season. Under the collective bargaining agreement, L.A. could waive Nash via the stretch provision before the start of training camp and have one-third of the $9.7 million owed to him (approximately $3.2 million) counted against the salary cap for the next three seasons.
"If the Lakers release me this summer, this is it," he told ESPN.. "I finally got my kids here in L.A. I'm not going to move them again, and I'm not going to be without them for another year. So it's either back with the Lakers next year or I'm done."
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