Nash could have been a Timberwolf

As Charlie Walters of the Pioneer Press reports Dallas All-Star guard Steve Nash’s career could have at least started out with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and if it had who knows what things would be like today.

Back before the 1996 Draft the Phoenix Suns offered their first round pick, 15th Overall, for guard Chris Carr. The Timberwolves rejected the deal and the Suns drafted Nash, the rest is history.

Nash and the Dallas Mavericks now head into Minnesota for Game 3 of their first round series, which Chris Carr is now out of the league.

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Minnesota Timberwolves, Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns

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The mysterious success of Nets, Pistons, Celtics

What is the common denominator linking the success of the Nets, Pistons, and Celtics? Peter May of ESPN.com has an answer that might surprise you: the Phoenix Suns.

The three lottery teams from a year ago all made trades with Phoenix that helped turn their teams around. The Nets doubled their win total with Jason Kidd, the Pistons turned their record from 32-50 to 50-32 (largely thanks to the addition of Cliff Robinson), and the Celtics have a .642 winning percentage since trading for Rodney Rogers and Tony Delk in February.

So maybe Jerry Colangelo should be nominated for Executive of the Year. After all, he did get three teams into the playoffs. Unfortunately none of those teams played in Phoenix where the Suns were 15 games worse than a year ago.

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Phoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons, New Jersey Nets, Boston Celtics

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Midwest Title Lost, Mavs Rest vs Suns

PHOENIX – By the time the Mavericks started the second half Wednesday, they knew their fate. Which meant that by early in the third quarter, all the Mavericks starters were on the bench, resting for the opponent that took 82 games to identify – the Minnesota Timberwolves.

San Antonio beat Utah, so the Midwest Division would not be the Mavericks', no matter what they did at America West Arena. That achievement – not moving up from the No. 4 spot that the Mavericks secured in their 89-76 loss to Phoenix – was the Mavericks' main goal.

"It's exciting to have such a close race," Raef LaFrentz said. "But we just wanted to win the division." With the team's fate sealed, coach Don Nelson was content to let Steve Nash rest his sore back, let Dirk Nowitzki keep his sore left ankle from further aggravation, and even let Michael Finley rest to prepare for a battle against the fifth-seeded Timberwolves that begins Sunday at American Airlines Center.

Via Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns

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