This off-season, the Raptors are planning to make their run at Phoenix Suns' Steve Nash. The Raptors believe he can come here, since the Canadian can play for his country.
However, it doesn't seem likely, as Nash isn't getting any younger as he looks to head to a contender to finish off his career and finally get a ring.
With the Raptors knowing that a Nash-deal can fail, they have another plan in mind as they could go after New York Knicks' Jeremy Lin.
Writes the New York Daily News:
Toronto will be in direct competition with the Knicks for Steve Nash. But Nash is expected to look to sign with a bona fide contender, and the Knicks and Raptors don’t fit that description. The Raptors are also a potential landing spot for Jeremy Lin. They like him and what he’d do for their attendance, but Toronto would have to “back-load” an offer to the restricted free agent, paying him gazillions in the final couple of years of a deal, and hope that the Knicks would not match. According to league sources, that’s what the Raptors just might do if their Nash plan falls through. But considering that the Knicks have no other viable options at point guard, and Lin has been nothing short of a marketing dream, they’re seen as a lock to match any offer.
The Raptors have been rebuilding ever since Chris Bosh left during the summer of 2010. We'll see what they plan to do this off-season.
Josh Dhani is the founder of FootBasket. He also contributes at Hoops Authority and Eight Points Nine Seconds. You can read more about him at his website. Follow him on Twitter @joshdhani.
