Nash bolts Dallas for the desert

PHOENIX — Point guard Steve Nash agreed to a five-year, $65 million deal with the Phoenix Suns on Thursday, leaving the Dallas Mavericks to return to the team that drafted him eight years ago.

The deal includes a "partial guarantee" for a sixth year, Nash's agent Bill Duffy said.

Nash shook hands on the deal with new owner Robert Sarver and Suns chairman Jerry Colangelo at a meeting in Dallas, Duffy said.

NBA rules prohibit Nash from signing the deal until July 14. Teams were allowed to begin talks with free agents late Wednesday.

Nash averaged 14.5 points, 8.8 assists and three rebounds per game last season, when he also recorded his first career triple-double.

He will give Phoenix an experienced playmaker ahead of young Leandro Barbosa. The move almost certainly removes the Suns from the competition for Los Angeles Lakers free agent Kobe Bryant.

Phoenix is $16.3 million under the NBA salary cap, not counting the Nash deal.

Dallas officials said repeatedly since the season ended that they expected no problem keeping Nash, the spark plug behind their rise from one of the league's worst teams to one of the best. Along the way, the energetic, floppy haired guard became an All-Star and a fan favorite.

Nash was drafted by Phoenix in 1996 and spent two seasons backing up Kevin Johnson and Jason Kidd. He was traded to Dallas on draft day in 1998, the same night the Mavs acquired Dirk Nowitzki. Those two plus holdover Michael Finley formed the heart of Dallas' turnaround.

While adding Nash takes Phoenix out of the running for Bryant, it's hard to say how this will impact the Mavericks' trade bid for Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal.

JACOBSON WITH CAVS: Nick Jacobson, who finished his career tied for 10th in career scoring and first in three-pointers at the University of Utah, signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers to play on their summer league team.

Joining the squad as a free agent, Jacobson is one of 15 players on the Cavaliers' roster. He'll join the Cavs for a three-day mini camp July 3-5 in Cleveland before embarking on a two-week road trip to Orlando and Las Vegas, competing in five games in each city against other NBA entries.

Jacosbon will face two other former Utes in the Cavaliers' first two games in Orlando. The Cavaliers play the Magic, who have Britton Johnsen (1997-2003) on their roster, on July 6. Chris Burgess (2000-02) is playing for the Boston Celtics, who will play Cleveland on July 7.