ESPN: Phoenix Suns to sign-and-trade Steve Nash to Los Angeles Lakers

Our take: The NBA offseason isn't slowing down a bit. The Utah Jazz have already made two major moves, acquiring point guard Mo Williams and small forward Marvin Williams. But the Jazz's Western Conference rivals in Los Angeles haven't been sitting idle, either. ESPN's Marc Stein reports:

In an unforeseen twist that could thrust the Los Angeles Lakers straight back into title contention, two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash has successfully negotiated a sign-and-trade deal from the Phoenix Suns to the Los Angeles Lakers that will team him up with Kobe Bryant, according to sources with knowledge of the deal.

Nash will receive a three-year deal in excess of $25 million, sources said, because the Suns ultimately agreed to sign-and-trade him to the Lakers, who can absorb Nash via the trade exception they created by dealing Lamar Odom to the Dallas Mavericks in December.

Read more about Steve Nash joining the Lakers on ESPN.com.