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08:10 AM ET 07.10 | Toronto had both the first phone call and the first in-person crack at Canada's favorite basketball son, Steve Nash, and his agent, Bill Duffy. [Raptors co-owner Larry Tanenbaum] provided his ritzy Central Park apartment to serve as the venue for what Duffy described as a "big presentation." The food was lavish and the contract offer rich, but the video compilation [Bryan Colangelo] ordered up for the occasion made an impression on Nash that moved him more than a three-year, $36 million pitch ever could -- largely because Wayne Gretzky was the narrator. Rumbles that Gretzky, one of Nash's boyhood heroes, would be involved in the Raptors' Nash pitch leaked out through the Toronto media ... but "involved" was understating it.

Steve Nash, Getty Images

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Comment #1 has been removed

July 10, 2012 08:34 AM ET

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Think he could maybe try the same thing with Dwight Howard??...

dannylimes

Toronto, ON

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July 10, 2012 08:53 AM ET

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So how did that work out bro?

ESPN

Atlanta , GA

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July 10, 2012 09:02 AM ET

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QUOTE(#4):

Originally posted 08:39 AM ET 07.10 by G-B

Nash won in this free agency. He got the money and has a chance to win a ring...

He took 11million less to join the Lakers. It wasn't about a championship at all... it's all about his kids and I respect him a lot for that...

Lostwill

Natick , MA

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July 10, 2012 09:14 AM ET

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QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 09:10 AM ET 07.10 by Docmadinejad

If it was about his kids why didn't he stay in Phoenix? After all that's where his kids live. Not in LA. Plus, he has a summer home in NYC. He stops loving his kids in the summer? I respect you a great deal my Knick brethren, but in this case we disagree. Nash went to LA because he's chasing a ring and felt that was his best option.

If it was about the ring only, he'd have signed with Miami. Toronto is nicer than NY too.

CavsalldayTheEnglish…

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July 10, 2012 09:20 AM ET

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QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 09:10 AM ET 07.10 by Docmadinejad

If it was about his kids why didn't he stay in Phoenix? After all that's where his kids live. Not in LA. Plus, he has a summer home in NYC. He stops loving his kids in the summer? I respect you a great deal my Knick brethren, but in this case we disagree. Nash went to LA because he's chasing a ring and felt that was his best option.

I agree Doc...and I have said the same thing since this happened...Nash is chasing a ring and only chasing a ring because if it was about the kids, he would have stayed in Phoenix...and made more money.

SoonerThunder

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July 10, 2012 09:41 AM ET

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QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 09:14 AM ET 07.10 by CavsalldayTheEnglishMajor

If it was about the ring only, he'd have signed with Miami. Toronto is nicer than NY too.

It wasn't his choice to leave or stay. The franchise is moving in a different direction and he happned to their best asset so they had to get rid of him to position themselves well for the future. Even if he took minimum contract to stay in Phoenix it still hurts the Suns cos they miss out on the draft picks and cap relief they got from the Lakers. It was clear he had to go so the middle ground of what's best for him and the Suns franchise happen to be the Lakers. I don't think him being a Laker put LA over the top or makes them a contender. OKC didn't go no where... matter of fact who can he guard...Parker, Westbrook, Chris Paul?

Lostwill

Natick , MA

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July 10, 2012 10:02 AM ET

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No Need To Go To The Penalty Box, Bro.

I Love LA

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July 10, 2012 10:39 AM ET

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QUOTE(#12):

Originally posted 09:41 AM ET 07.10 by Lostwill

It wasn't his choice to leave or stay. The franchise is moving in a different direction and he happned to their best asset so they had to get rid of him to position themselves well for the future. Even if he took minimum contract to stay in Phoenix it still hurts the Suns cos they miss out on the draft picks and cap relief they got from the Lakers. It was clear he had to go so the middle ground of what's best for him and the Suns franchise happen to be the Lakers. I don't think him being a Laker put LA over the top or makes them a contender. OKC didn't go no where... matter of fact who can he guard...Parker, Westbrook, Chris Paul?

It actually was his choice..they wanted to re-sign him badly..it was Nash who said he wanted to move in a different direction.

"About the kids"...yeah right! Thats always laughable when athletes say that....its so rarely true! Now if Jamison comes to the Bobcats, then THAT is real bc hes from Charlotte and his 4 kids live here....you take less money to come to a TERRIBLE team bc ur kids live there, thats real! Nash is still trying to get a ring, dont be fooled son

DR_Universal

Charlotte , NC

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July 10, 2012 10:45 AM ET

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So they let Gretzky try to convince a player to play in Canada over L.A. , irony...

FanOFlyers

Philadelphia , PA

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July 10, 2012 10:54 AM ET

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QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 08:35 AM ET 07.10 by Docmadinejad

Gretzky? Stick to hockey dude. Also how ironic is it that Toronto, a Canadian team needs to use a NYC apartment to make the most impactful pitch? Ha ha ha ha ha

? Nash was in NY at his offseason home. The Raps went to him in order to make the first pitch. Maybe u wanted them to stay in T.O and make the pith via conference call? BC's plan was to sweep Nash of his feet like he did when he lured Nash to PHX. That included being there to meet him as soon as was possible.

MKL_

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July 10, 2012 10:55 AM ET

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QUOTE(#16):

Originally posted 10:45 AM ET 07.10 by FanOFlyers

So they let Gretzky try to convince a player to play in Canada over L.A. , irony...

Yes that was irony at its best

MKL_

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July 10, 2012 10:59 AM ET

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And Raps fans dont worry. signing Nash was all about the $$$ for MLSE. Kyle Lowry is a much better pick up at this stage of their careers. Only half the cap hit too.