Cavs showed interest in Steve Nash before he announced his retirement

Eight-time All-Star and future Hall of Fame point guard Steve Nash announced his retirement from basketball this weekend, a decision forced by his aging body’s lack of fitness for NBA basketball. In three injury-ravaged seasons for the Los Angeles Lakers, Nash only played in 65 games. But before he retired, the Cleveland Cavaliers front office made it known to the Nash camp that they were interested in his services as a backup for Kyrie Irving. Nash, who had appeared in zero NBA games this season before he ended his career, would have needed a buyout from the Los Angeles Lakers before courting other teams. ESPN’s Marc Stein reported the Cavs’ interest in his excellent and thoughtful column on Nash finding peace in parting from the game he loves.

As a bonus, in case he needs the pick-me-up, Nash can console himself with the knowledge that at least one pretty good basketball team still covets his services. League sources told ESPN.com earlier this month that LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers — who happen to have two of the biggest Nash admirers on Earth in their front office, in David Griffin and former teammate Raja Bell — let it be known to longtime Nash agent Bill Duffy that they would love to give the old man a whirl as a short-minute backup to Kyrie Irving if Nash wanted to seek a buyout after the trade deadline from whoever had him at that point.

Cavs general manager David Griffin worked for the Phoenix Suns organization for 17 years, most recently as the club’s senior vice president of basketball operations. Raja Bell was a guard for the Phoenix Suns for over three seasons — all alongside Steve Nash — and now works for the Cavs with some generic front office title like “senior vice president of basketball operations.” Their personal relationships with Nash (and the fact Nash revolutionized the point guard position) explains Griffin and Bell’s especially strong admiration for the former Sun, and desire to acquire his services.

Matthew Dellavedova is currently cast as the Cavs backup point guard, and tallies nearly five points and three assists per game in over 20 minutes. Dellavedova has probably had two of his best games of the season in the past week, hitting two crucial three pointers and a nice up-and-under layup in last Friday’s win against Indiana that clinched a playoff berth for the Cavs, and played the entire fourth quarter in Sunday’s win in Milwaukee because the Cavs were in such an offensive rhythm with Dellavedova and James running the offense.

Nash joins Ray Allen as a legend that the Cavs pursued as both a source of wisdom and as a minor role player. Both flirtations ended in naught. I suppose they’ll have to settle for Kendrick Perkins.

The idea of Nash in spot duty for the Cavs is a fun fantasy in which to indulge, as his 42.8 percent three-point percentage is ninth in NBA history. The knowledge which led to more than 10 thousand assists (third all-time) would have also been an invaluable resource for Irving, whom Nash listed to Stein as one of his “favorite point guards to watch in the modern game,” along with Stephen Curry. But alas, Nash “only wanted to come back — and go out — as a Laker.” [Me making retching sound.] In any event, basketball fans around the world will miss Nash’s proficiency at the point guard position, and will be forever grateful that he made basketball a more entertaining and elegant game than when he first laced up his sneakers.