The Phoenix Suns (4-9) are in the midst of a five-game losing streak that has the Purple and Orange gang sitting 13th in the Western Conference. The four wins in 13 games mark the worst start to a Suns season since 1996-97, when that team started 0-13 before collecting its first win.

In a seemingly twisted stroke of irony, the 1996-97 season marked Steve Nash’s first in the Valley of the Sun while the 2011-12 campaign could be his last.

National pundits have been chanting “Free Steve Nash” for some time now and the logic is sound. Nash, 38 in February, is still a top five point guard in the NBA and continues to defy the depths of age as he is currently tied with Boston’s Rajon Rondo as the league’s assist leader. How long he can keep up this type of pace is unknown but critics claim that Nash’s inspired play should be for a contender – not a team closer to a top pick in the 2012 draft than a playoff seed. While the notion of Nash playing the 2011-12 season out with a legitimate shot at his first title is nice, how exactly is this supposed to happen?

Nash, despite his talents, is only attractive to certain teams: contenders. These teams do not have what Phoenix would require in a trade for its star player. Organizations already in position to make a run at a title will not want to give up talent already on their rosters at the risk of contention and will only have late first round picks to offer. Phoenix, clearly undergoing a rebuild, would likely require youth or a low pick to ease the pain of losing its most popular player.

The fact that Nash is currently in the last year of an extension paying him $11.6 million does not aid the pro-trade argument. Phoenix would have to take back salary in a Nash deal which goes against the rebuild plan of acquiring cap space to make a serious play at free agency.

Since Nash is in the last year of his deal, Phoenix can simply wait five months and have his salary clear the books without adding unwanted salary in the process.

The one team that does make sense for an in-season trade is New York. While the Knicks are not exactly contenders, they can be with the right pieces – mainly Nash. New York is currently under .500 and has yet to click this season. As a result, it appears that former Phoenix coach and Nash favorite, Mike D’Antoni, is in the hot seat and could be let go before the season is out.

For those thinking that the Knicks can simply wait for Nash to sign via free agency come July need to think about this – is New York as attractive to Nash sans D’Antoni? While it could happen, it would certainly be more unlikely. Making a play for Nash via trade while D’Antoni is still in the Big Apple makes a lot of sense for both teams. Phoenix could ask for rookie Iman Shumpert in exchange for the former two-time MVP while the Knicks get to reunite the three people who helped create the greatest run in Suns history – D’Antoni, Nash, and Stoudemire.

As a result, Phoenix suddenly has two nice young pieces to start the rebuilding process in Shumpert and fellow rookie Markieff Morris while awaiting a summer filled with cap space and a high first round pick. The Knicks, meanwhile, would be primed for a deep playoff run with Nash leading the break with Carmelo Anthony and Amare’ Stoudemire at his sides.

Wanting Nash to play out his career in constant championship contention is nice in theory but is clearly easier thought about than done.

While there is certain to be speculation on a Nash blockbuster as the season grows longer, finding a scenario that aids Phoenix’s rebuild effort will be hard to come by.