Steve Nash, who has a home in the West Village, played soccer Wednesday night in Chinatown and on Sunday could find himself in midtown at the Garden meeting with Knicks officials.
Nash said with the proximity of the Garden to his summer home, he would agree to a Knicks’ meeting when free agency opens July 1.
Nevertheless, Nash, who has lived in Manhattan in the summer for several years, is definitely long shot because of the Knicks’ money quandary, but the 38-year-old Phoenix star point guard said he wouldn’t say no to a recruiting visit.
“I would think [yes],’’ Nash said Wednesday on the soccer field before his charity soccer tournament. “I’ll meet with them if they’re interested. We’ll see what happens Sunday. I’m looking forward to what teams are interested and what they have to say. I haven’t been able to sit down and talk with teams. Sunday, I’ll get a chance to meet with some teams and see what happens. I don’t necessary want to visit every team. I just want to talk and hear what they have to say.’’
Nash’s event is held annually at Sara D Roosevelt Park, close to the Williamsburg Bridge. So he wasn’t going to dismiss the Brooklyn Nets either.
“Sure, it’s another exciting opportunity, a brand-new stadium, a very passionate and resourceful owner, another exciting opportunity,’’ Nash said. “I have friends in Brooklyn. I get over there. Brooklyn is beautiful. I think a lot of guys will find out about Brooklyn.’’
Under-the-cap Toronto is reportedly ready to bowl over the Canadian point guard with an offer and Phoenix is ready to spend whatever to keep its two-time MVP.
“Phoenix has been home for eight years,’’ Nash said. “It’s a very important place. I’m a Sun, still am. It’s still possible.’’
Nash also touted the merits of the Raptors, because he is GM for Canadian Basketball and is “trying to move the game forward in Canada.’’
The harsh reality with the Knicks’ chances is even if their union victory in the Jeremy Lin/Steve Novak arbitration case holds up Sunday (NBA is expect to appeal), they likely will be stuck with a $3 million mid-level exception — not $5 million — because they could exceed $74 million in payroll. Earlier this week, Nash said on the radio money is still a big factor.
Not having his former Phoenix coach Mike D’Antoni recruiting him doesn’t help the Knicks’ cause either in their hope Nash comes for less money.
“It was a shame,’’ Nash said last night, referring to D’Antoni’s resignation in March. “He never got a great opportunity. The team was constantly in flux. Amar’e [Stoudemire] and Carmelo [Anthony] didn’t play much together and build a rapport yet. It was a shame. He didn’t get enough time with the full roster.’’
Nash was asked if Jeremy Lin’s presence would deter him from coming to the Knicks.
“I’d have to hear what they have to say, what the coaches have to say, what the front office says,’’ Nash said. “It’s not just one factor. Jeremy isn’t a deterrent to come here.’’
One fan last night wore a green T-shirt that read “What would Steve Nash do?’’ Nobody knows.
marc.berman@nypost.com