Marc Stein of ESPN.com reports that the Portland Trail Blazers are "trying hard" to trade for Phoenix Suns All-Star guard Steve Nash and have been pursuing him "for a while." ------------------------- Said another: "Because of his age and because he can leave in the summer, offers for Nash haven't been as star-laden as you'd think." Yet even if the Blazers were willing to include the widely coveted Nicolas Batum in a package for Nash -- which is a matter of debate depending on who's doing the gossiping -- sources say Phoenix continues to put out the message that it won't deal Nash unless Nash asks to be traded. Which is something Nash has consistently said he won't do. ------------------------- Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld.com reports... ------------------------- Steve Nash on Portland rumors: "Portland’s great. They’ve got a great team, great fans and a great organization. It’s a terrific situation." ------------------------- Similar rumors have persisted for weeks months years. The trade deadline is March 15. -- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter