09-01-2026, 10:00 AM
To consolidate a theme... Nash did not set the world on fire when he came over from Phoenix.
He already had at least two years of NBA experience, albeit behind Kevin Johnson AND Kidd.
Nash's delay in development was one of the reasons that Nellie brought in Howard Eisley in the summer of 2000, and between the two of them early that year we struggled to identify a starting caliber NBA point guard on the roster.
By the end of the season it was Nash and it wasn't really close.
This was the beginning of Nellie showing mark how to increase talent by expanding the payroll via trades rather than drafting players. This was an important (and ultimately unfortunate) turn of events as the 2000 Draft was the worst in history and mark had just used assets to get 3 of them in the first round. This lends to mark devaluing the draft (outside of the top 5 or 6) and ultimately grew his confidence that he was the smartest guy in the room when it came to the CBA and spreadsheets.
He already had at least two years of NBA experience, albeit behind Kevin Johnson AND Kidd.
Nash's delay in development was one of the reasons that Nellie brought in Howard Eisley in the summer of 2000, and between the two of them early that year we struggled to identify a starting caliber NBA point guard on the roster.
By the end of the season it was Nash and it wasn't really close.
This was the beginning of Nellie showing mark how to increase talent by expanding the payroll via trades rather than drafting players. This was an important (and ultimately unfortunate) turn of events as the 2000 Draft was the worst in history and mark had just used assets to get 3 of them in the first round. This lends to mark devaluing the draft (outside of the top 5 or 6) and ultimately grew his confidence that he was the smartest guy in the room when it came to the CBA and spreadsheets.
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