Steve Nash: The Latest Knicks Free Agent Pipe Dream

Yesterday, we recognized Jason Kidd as the media and Knicks fans alike continue to map out the endless possibilities of veterans available to join the team next season.

Yesterday it was Kidd, last week it was Ray Allen. Today, the speculation surrounding Steve Nash donning orange and blue for a stint in the Big Apple has returned with a vengeance.

My friend Jared Zwerling from ESPN New York added some good fuel to the fire, with a little help from a Knickerbocker legend.

At a promotional event this morning in New York, Zwerling asked the free agent to be about the possibility of playing for the Knicks. Nash, who resides in the heart of SoHo during the NBA offseason, has always kept his ears open to such an opportunity, dating back to when Mike D'Antoni first began coaching the team.

Even though D'Antoni's tenure in New York has ended, Nash could still end up with the Knicks. In just a few short weeks, the team will have some crucial decisions to make regarding their free agent targets. Though Jeremy Lin, who took the entire nation by storm this season, is a free agent who at this point looks likely to return, the Knicks may instead opt to go in a different direction.

Somewhere in between all the "Linsanity" and Lin's struggles against teams like the Miami Heat lies his true potential. Given his short stint, perhaps the Knicks will feel that's too small of a sample size to base a major commitment like a long-term contract off of. If this is the case, Nash clearly represents a safer bet as an established player and bonafide all-star, even at 38 years of age.

With top-tier talents like Carmelo Anthony, Tyson Chandler, and Amar'e Stoudemire already on board, the Knicks know the time is now for them to legitimately chase a championship. A two-time MVP still chasing his first NBA title, like Nash, could ultimately be a key missing piece to their puzzle.

Nash said he would certainly listen to offers from the Knicks if they came calling this summer.

If all strong desire from New Yorkers and a chance at the trophy isn't enough to lure Nash in, perhaps a major endorsement from a Knicks legend is. Nash bumped into Walt "Clyde" Frazier at the event, who enthusiastically told him, "We need you in New York!" according to Zwerling. What's more, Frazier tweeted the above picture of the two Hall of Fame-caliber point guards together.