By David Lord and Mike Fisher – DallasBasketball.com

“For me, a max-out contract is not the be-all and end-all,’’ says Steve Nash, a statement that should make Mavs fans celebrate as much as it probably makes his agent cringe.

Maybe the reason free-agent Nash unofficially began negotiations this weekend with that statement is because the framework for a fair deal is already in place – in place in Sacramento.

Two years ago, Bibby signed a 7-year deal with the Kings. It started "low" and included raises every year. It has 5 years left, at $62.5 million.

Even though Bibby is much younger and clearly outplayed Nash in the Sacramento series, the relative contribution to their team seems similar for those two players. Since Nash is already 30 and it is uncertain whether he can play effectively into his late 30s, we suggest a fair contract would be one that matches the remainder of Bibby's deal - 5 years (which takes Nash past his 35th birthday), with annual salaries of 10.5, 11.5, 12.5, 13.5, 14.5.

The Bibby model would work well for the Mavs to offer, because it would be hard for Nash to argue that he is far better than Bibby and deserves far more pay. It would thus be a fair offer, being made to a player that says he prefers to remain here. And such a deal would still get Nash into the pay range for an All-Star, which is typically in the 10-13M range right now. Although Dallas could justify a lower offer, if they truly want Nash here then they should put him in the same pay scale as other All-Stars and team leaders with similar skills, as well as in the same general pay range as the other top players on the Mavs.

Perhaps Nash could seek an offer for a few more dollars from another team. His parents live in the home he bought them in the Phoenix area. And there is always Toronto, where Nash ranks as a No. 1 Canadian hero. Cuban will encourage him to test those waters. But even in those spots, 7 years at $80 mil – seven years puts Nash at 38 at the end of the deal! -- seems unlikely.

There are some budget issues everywhere – and that includes Dallas, which has increasingly spent money more carefully than in the days when owner Mark Cuban seemed to automatically throw $3 mil into every trade his franchise made. Cuban has gotten away from that, and now must try to juggle dollars. This is a team with an $85 mil roster, and makes sense to have a premium PG to fuel it. (No way anyone within the organization believes Marquis Daniels is already up to that task). Dirk and Jamison are getting 12.5 next yr, Finley and Walker 14.6 (all are max deals, just varying vet yrs), so if you don’t put Nash (who is the trigger and the leader, really) up there somewhere in that range then you might be asking for locker-room trouble.

All of which makes it admirable that Nash is taking such a soft-line, open-minded stance. He wants to stick with this city that is his second home, this franchise where he’s built relationships, this team where he feels comfortable – but feels he’s only half-done with his job. Even in negotiations, Nash is being a team-first guy. That might disappoint his agent. … but it shouldn’t surprise anyone.