Report: Lakers won't use stretch provision on Steve Nash

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The Los Angeles Lakers will be keeping point guard Steve Nash on the roster for one more season.

Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times has the details:

And, of course, Nash, might be a reserve. The Lakers would have waived him had they signed Anthony and Gasol, but now they'll eat the final year of his contract in one $9.7-million chunk instead of spreading it out over three years and taking up precious cap space in the summers of 2015 and 2016.

The issue with Nash is two-fold. One, the 40-year-old is understandably battling with health concerns, which limited him to just 15 games played last season. Two, he's owed nearly $10 million next season, which is taking up precious cap room.

But, having struck out on inking a major superstar this summer, the Lakers opted to fill the roster with various assorted bit-players, which meant they didn't need to use the stretch provision - which would have spread the remaining $9.7 million on Nash's deal over three seasons - on the aged guard to open cap room.

If Nash is fit to play, the move adds depth to the Lakers' point guard situation. Currently, it looks as if the starting job will come down to either Nash or the newly acquired Jeremy Lin.

Last season, Nash averaged 6.8 points and 5.7 assists per game. 

[H/T Pro Basketball Talk]