To The Tin

Nash will be in Phoenix through the 2011-2012 season. (Getty Images)

The Phoenix Suns are in the process of overhauling an aging roster. Apparently, there is still room for 35 year-old Steve Nash.

The Suns signed Nash to a two-year, $22 million extension that will keep him in Phoenix through the 2011-2012 season. The deal includes six million in deferred payments over the two years following the expiration of the contract, creating more cap room for the cash-strapped Suns.

Nash was slated to become a free agent following next season and presumably would have looked to sign with a contending team. His decision to take the money makes sense, especially considering next year’s bumper crop of free agents. Phoenix was willing to overpay for Nash in an effort to keep fans in the seats while it continues to rebuild.

Nash and Grant Hill will be the elder statesman of the Suns next season. Phoenix has a handful of terrible young players, and would love to acquire quality young players (Anthony Randolph) for Amar’e Stoudemire. Look for the trade talk to heat up again next season.

The extension allows what has been a perfect marriage between Nash and the Suns to continue. Nash would have had to compete for minutes if he chose to play elsewhere, and the Suns would have been scrambling to find a quality young point guard – Goran Dragic just isn’t the answer.

Remember when the Suns were on the cusp of the NBA Finals? How quickly things have changed in Phoenix.