Steve Nash does not intend to ask the Suns to trade him before the March 15 deadline.

“I’m not oblivious to [the chance of] playing on a contender,” Nash said. “But at the same time, especially in the position I’m in right now, I feel a sense of loyalty to my team. To go and ask for a trade, it’s not like I’m going to say, ‘Trade me to...’”

Nash, 37, will be an unrestricted free agent after this season.

“Everyone wants to be on a contender,” Nash said. “It’s cyclical. Right now we’re not contending. We’re just trying to fight for an eighth spot.

“I just feel like I owe it to my teammates [to stay]. I like these guys a lot. I want to fight for them and see how good we can be. If we take our lumps, we take our lumps."