Phoenix Suns' Best Free Agent Signing is No-Brainer

Originally posted on FanNation Inside The Suns
By Donnie Druin | Last updated 8/19/22

When debating who the best free agent signing in each NBA franchise's history is, the Phoenix Suns have one clear winner.

In a recent article from HoopsHype going through each team's best signing in free agency, there's some mighty good acquisitions. The Magic signing Tracy McGrady, the Nuggets grabbing Kenyon Martin and the 76ers inking Moses Malone are just some of the favorites on the list.

Although Steve Nash was originally drafted by Phoenix, he still ranks as the Suns' No. 1 acquisition in free agency:

Steve Nash Clear and Obvious Choice for Suns Best FA Signing

The following is the excerpt from Nash's part of the article:

"Stats with team (second stint): 16.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 10.9 apg, 43.7 3PT%

"Accolades with team: Six-time All-Star, two-time league MVP, three-time 1st Team All-NBA, two-time 2nd Team All-NBA, five-time assists champion, four-time 50/40/90 club

"After originally being drafted by the Phoenix Suns and spending his first two seasons there, Steve Nash was traded to the Mavericks where he spent the next six seasons of his career and started to show signs of being one of the top floor generals in the NBA, making two All-Star appearances along the way.

"Then, in the summer of 2004, ahead of his age-30 campaign, Nash became a free agent and had hopes of re-signing with Dallas, the team that helped turn him into an elite point guard. However, with so many big salaries already on the payroll, namely those of Antoine Walker, Michael Finley, Antawn Jamison and Dirk Nowitzki, and with Nash already entering his 30s, the Mavericks low-balled their point guard, offering him a four-year deal worth roughly $36 million.

"Phoenix, on the other hand, was offering Nash a six-year, $63 million contract, which the Canadian legend ended up agreeing to.

"We know how the rest of the story goes, as Nash, alongside Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion, and under the tutelage of then-head coach Mike D’Antoni, helped form the 7-seconds-or-less-era Suns and turned the franchise into contenders, getting to the conference finals three times during his tenure there, a span in which he was named league MVP twice.

"Honorable mentions: Tom Chambers, Connie Hawkins"

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