HoopsHype.com Rumors

Should Howard decide to leave the Lakers, sources said, several options have been discussed internally in Lakerland. Among them: The Lakers could simply let him walk, go into the season with Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Steve Nash as their centerpieces -- as they had planned in July 2012 before the trade for Howard materialized -- and focus on slicing into their luxury-tax bill. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Steve Nash, Dwight Howard 

Gary Vitti: But I think he's going to come back in great shape, and then it's all about how he's used. You don't want to beat him up in practice. Save it for the game, figure out the appropriate minutes that put him in a successful situation. The example I use is Robert Horry, where we played him a lot of minutes, and it was difficult for him to recover and be productive at his age. But he goes to San Antonio, plays 18 minutes a game, and the guy was an unbelievable force off the bench for them. I think if we figure out how best to use Steve, he can be the same way. NBA.com

Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Steve Nash, Robert Horry, Gary Vitti 

Steve Nash, according to Leandro Barbosa, according to Steve Nash, plays soccer like he plays basketball "Leandro Barbosa, my former teammate [with the Phoenix Suns] . . . says I play soccer exactly how I play basketball," said Nash. "I love to pass and play-make but not afraid to shoot when I get the opportunity." Where would he play prospective teammate Dwight Howard if he made it to the Showdown? "I think Dwight would be best served in goal, but maybe he could surprise me out on the field a little bit," said Nash. Sulia

Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Nash, Dwight Howard, Leandro Barbosa 

There’s only one place where NBA players and international soccer stars annually come together to play a little fútbol — and that’s the Steve Nash Foundation Showdown. “This brings together three of my biggest passions,” Nash said on a conference call Wednesday. “Helping children through my foundation, basketball and soccer is the highlight of summer.” Nash has hosted the 8-on-8 soccer in Manhattan for six years. The tournament benefits underprivileged children who have been affected by poverty, illness, abuse or neglect. This year there will be two matches — in New York on, June 26, and for the first time in Los Angeles on July 14. For The Win

Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Nash 

NBA stars Tony Parker, Jason Kidd, Chris Bosh and Grant Hill have featured in past matches, as well as notable soccer names like Thierry Henry, Claudio Reyna, Robbie Rogers and Patrick Vieira. Nash is keeping mum about this year’s rosters, though said if he could choose just one international star to come out, it would be Lionel Messi (obviously). For The Win

Los Angeles Lakers, Chris Bosh, Tony Parker, Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, Grant Hill 

The Lakers guard has been rehabbing nagging injuries sustained last season, but said he will be good to go for matches and expects to be at “100 percent” for next season. When asked why he hosts a charity soccer game and not one for basketball, Nash spoke of soccer being his first love. “My first word was goal,” he said. “The game has always been really important to me and it’s never really left me. And to be in a position to bring in international soccer players for a game is a dream come true.” For The Win

Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Nash 

L.A. Lakers star Steve Nash just won a victory in his custody war with his ex, but it's small potatoes compared to what's ultimately at stake. A judge in the case just ruled ... Steve's live-in girlfriend, Brittany Richardson, is allowed to accompany the 3 kids without Steve from L.A. to Arizona and back. Steve's ex, Alejandra Nash, had objected to Brittany taking charge of the kids on grounds she wasn't a family member. TMZ.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Nash, Law 

There's a bigger issue on the line. Both Steve and Alejandra are waiting for the judge to rule on whether she can move from Phoenix to L.A. Steve has objected ... he says because L.A. is a lousy place to raise kids. Alejandra scoffs at Steve's objection, saying it's a smoke screen and the real reason he doesn't want her to move is because a California judge would nail him with child support. TMZ.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Nash, Law 

Los Angeles Lakers point guard Steve Nash said Thursday morning on the witness stand in court that he expects to come back to Arizona after he ends his NBA career. Nash, who spent most of his career with the Phoenix Suns but now leases a home in Manhattan Beach, Calif., said he intends to keep his permanent residence in Paradise Valley, Ariz., where he has made recent renovations. His residency has become an issue in a two-day "relocation trial" in the Maricopa County Superior Court regarding his ex-wife and three children, and whether he would be involved in their lives. Nash's ex-wife, Alejandra Amarilla Menrath, wants Family Court Judge Thomas LeClaire to approve the relocation of their children from the Valley to Southern California. USA Today Sports

Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Nash, Law 

Nash, under terms of a sealed divorce settlement, does not pay child support. He pays for the children's private education and health-care insurance through his employer, according to testimony. Nash's attorneys have indicated he would like the children to attend a public school in Manhattan Beach if a judge rules they can move. Menrath wants to send the girls to a private school that is about 25 minutes from Nash's home. USA Today Sports

Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Nash, Law 

Steve Nash -- who plays for the LOS ANGELES Lakers -- just trashed L.A. in open court ... claiming the City of Angels is NO PLACE to raise a family. Nash slammed L.A. on the stand in his legal war with ex-wife Alejandra ... saying point blank, "I don't want my kids to grow up in L.A." Nash said he would consider raising his kids in San Diego ... but only because "it's a different lifestyle." TMZ.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Nash, Law 

Steve Nash is NOT trying to weasel out of paying child support to his ex-wife ... this according to Nash's attorney who tells TMZ accusations to the contrary are "absolute nonsense." TMZ.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Nash, Law 

39-year-old Steve Nash swore under penalty of perjury ... the Los Angeles Lakers star has no plans to hang up his jersey and retire from basketball, TMZ has learned. The revelation ironically came in the middle of a legal war he's having with his ex-wife over her plans to move with their kids from Arizona to California. TMZ.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Nash, Law 

Steve is on the stand right now ... and that's where he revealed he plans to stick around the NBA for a while. In fact, Steve said he has more than a year left on the lease for his sweet pad in Manhattan Beach, the city that a bunch of the Lakers call home. TMZ.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Nash, Law 

On which NBA players are genuine soccer fans: Dirk Nowizki: Who I know of is obviously Luol Deng who you guys obviously know from the Chicago Bulls. He grew up in London. He’s a huge Arsenal supporter. I know that for a fact. But then I’m not 100 percent sure. Steve (Nash) is a huge Tottenham (fan). I was actually just texting him saying we bet 100 bucks. I said Arsenal was going to make it, and he said Tottenham was going to make it and now, he owes me $100. Dallas Morning News

Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Luol Deng, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki 

NBA All-Star playmaker Steve Nash is making a play to block ex-wife Alejandra from moving from Arizona to L.A. so he can avoid paying child support. Or so she claims in their contentious court battle. Alejandra wants to relocate from Phoenix to L.A. so the kids can be closer to their dad, who is putting on a full-court press (so to speak) to defend against that. Nash even chose the L.A. Lakers over the N.Y. Knicks because it's closer to Arizona, but says he doesn't want them to move to L.A. at this moment. The Hollywood Gossip

Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Nash, Law 

Alejandra says Steve claims this is because of the possibility he may be traded or forced into retirement, which would mean uprooting the family again. She's not buying that for a second, though, and feels it's because California courts are likely to impose huge child support obligations against him. The Hollywood Gossip

Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Nash, Law 

Jackson said he believes the Lakers made the decision largely based on catering to Steve Nash, their 39-year-old point guard who was limited to 50 games this season as he battled a variety of injuries. "I think it didn't happen because there was some concern how are we going to move in the right direction for this ballclub," Jackson said. "When Mitch gave me the call close to midnight on Sunday night right before I was going to give them an answer Monday morning and said, 'We've made a choice. We're going to hire Mike D'Antoni. We think he's the best coach for this group of guys.' My answer was, 'For Steve Nash, yes, I agree but for Dwight Howard, I'm not so sure.' "In the process of thinking about how they could best use the team I think they thought first and foremost about Steve Nash and how Steve Nash was going to fit inside of an offensive system that I coach. ... I think that was a concern for them." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Phil Jackson, Steve Nash, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni 

According to sources with knowledge of the situation, part of the discussion between Howard and Kupchak centered around Howard's frustration with D'Antoni -- particularly how the center felt marginalized as the coach looked to Bryant and Steve Nash for leadership and suggestions and discounted Howard's voice. ESPN.com

Phoenix Suns, Steve Nash 

Jay Janower: Steve Nash's production company doing a documentary on Gay Soccer player Robbie Rogers. Formers Leeds player training with LA Galaxy. Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Nash