BLOG: Who will Steve Nash choose?

PHOENIX - Teams began courting free-agent point guard Steve Nash on Sunday as he met with both the Toronto Raptors and New York Knicks to start what should be an exciting summer for the two-time MVP.

After his meeting with Toronto, the Raptors offered Nash a three-year, $36 million deal. Nash made $12 million last season with the Suns, but it's not likely he'll get an offer from any other team that eclipses $10 million a year.

It's been anticipated that the Phoenix Suns would offer Nash a two-year, $20 million deal, but without being able to match Toronto's monetary offer, it doesn't appear likely that the point guard will return to the valley unless some major moves are made.

Plus, you'd have to think that the drafting of Kendall Marshall to eventually replace him has some impact on Nash's decision. Nash is as professional as it gets, and he completely understands the business side of things, but he is human, and it's not totally unreasonable to think he would feel slighted by the move.

While most people (myself included) have felt for a while that his return to Phoenix would be a long-shot, the Raptors wasting no time with their offer (which was very generous) probably puts some doubt in the minds of Suns management as well.

The Suns are the one team involved that needs him the most, not only to win, but to save face with their fans, and they were content with letting him meet with the competition before setting up a meeting. That can't look too good from Nash's perspective.

The Raptors have fired the first shot. Will the Suns fire back?