Marc Stein of ESPN reported yesterday that the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors are in “advanced negotiations” to bring on two-time MVP Steve Nash as a part-time player development consultant. The 41-year-old Nash officially retired from basketball in March and was reportedly pursued aggressively by Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, team president Rick Welts, and current player development coach Bruce Fraser, who all worked with Nash when he played in Phoenix.
Steve Kerr knows from experience what it takes to repeat. One of the many challenges for the Warriors will be finding ways to sustain and improve after a magical 67-win campaign last season. In order for Golden State to repeat, they have to evolve in any way possible. Their roster won’t be changing much, the biggest change thus far being the loss of David Lee, so it won’t be an evolution of personnel. They need to evolve intrinsically and individually, and having someone like Nash on board, one of the most valued and trusted basketball IQ’s in the game, is expected to contribute to that need.
As exciting, consistent, and efficient as the Warriors were last season, especially on the offensive side of the floor, the hardest thing to envision is them being even better. For eight straight seasons between 2001 and 2009, Nash’s teams ranked the highest in offensive efficiency. He brings an added element of mastery that the Warriors know they’ll need to overcome the standing obstacle of advancing themselves into something more.