The Steve Nash-led Phoenix Suns were indeed one of the most exciting teams of the mid-to-late 2000s.

With the two-time MVP orchestrating their high octane-offense,  guys like Amar’e Stoudemire, Shawn Marion, and Joe Johnson all benefited from his playmaking brilliance.

While their fast-paced style won a lot of regular-season games, that squad failed to emerge out of the Western Conference at the height of their powers.

In a bid to improve their chances, Phoenix tried to add more firepower to pair up alongside Nash. However, the Suns brass was unable to get a deal done to bring in potentially game-changing players.

Here are three superstars that Phoenix failed to land during the Nash era.

3. Kevin Garnett

It’s no secret that Garnett was extremely loyal to a fault to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Even when the franchise failed to build around him in his prime, The Big Ticket simply overstayed his welcome in the Twin Cities.

KG’s patience wore thin in the summer of 2007, and he considered taking his talents to The Valley. In an appearance on All The Smoke Podcast back in February, Garnett recalled the time he spoke to Nash as a courtesy.

Garnett was willing to take the pay cut in Phoenix, as long as he will be surrounded by other capable players.

“I was like, ‘OK, if I come down there, I'm playing with you and Amare right?'” Garnett told hosts Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes. “He was like, ‘I think they're going to give Amare (Stoudemire and Shawn Marion) up for you' and I was like, ‘So it's just going to be me and you?'”

Garnett, a former MVP himself, understandably changed his mind considering he’ll just be in the same boat as he was in Minny.

The Suns reportedly still pushed for acquiring Garnett via trade, but Marion basically nixed the deal. The Matrix was eager to get a max contract that year that he wanted no part of a 3-team deal that would have sent KG to Phoenix.

Had this pushed through, Garnett wouldn’t have teamed up with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen to win a title with the Boston Celtics in 2008.

2. Kobe Bryant

Despite figuring in numerous trade rumors over the years, the late Kobe Bryant spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Turns out, Phoenix made a push for Bryant on two separate occasions. Their fascination for the 6-foot-6 scorer began in 1996 draft when they thought the Lower Merion High School-product would fall to their laps at the 15th pick. Bryant impressed during his pre-draft workout with the Suns.

The Charlotte Hornets, however, beat them to the punch by picking him 13th, before shipping him to the Lakers. The Suns went on to use their pick on Nash.

After making a name for himself in Dallas, Phoenix brought Nash back via free agency in 2004. They had enough cap space to sign a second star that year, and Bryant was once again on their wish list.

The backcourt of Nash and Bryant, after all, would have been a scary sight for the rest of the league. Despite figuring in negotiations with Bryant’s camp, the Black Mamba re-signed with the Purple and Gold and went to win two more titles for the franchise.

Nash and Bryant did eventually team up in LA from 2012-15, but the former was way past his prime by then.

1. Stephen Curry

Like Nash, Curry is also a two-time MVP and is already considered one of the best Warriors players of all-time.

Had the Dubs not reneged on their deal with the Suns back in 2009, Curry could have taken Phoenix to new heights.

The Suns were ready to move on from Stoudemire at the time, and they had a deal in place for the Warriors’ 7th pick and a bunch of role players.

Curry could have served as Nash’s understudy in his early years and give other teams fits with their long-range barrage.

Although the Dubs coveted Curry, they weren’t expecting him to still be available at the 7th pick. They snatched the Davidson standout and decided to keep him in the long run.

Steph’s father Dell Curry recalled the time the Suns almost had his son.

“We had no idea that they had agreed to a trade,” he said in an interview with The Republic last year.

“Obviously, they couldn’t put that out. I remember (then-Suns general manager) Steve Kerr calling me (the next morning) and saying, ‘Don’t go to the press conference. We have a trade that they reneged on.’ I’m like, ‘That’s between you guys. We’re going wherever they tell us. We can’t not go.’”

Making matters worse for Phoenix was the fact that they passed on Jru Holiday for their 14th pick, thinking they had the Curry deal in place.

Curry, of course, eventually still played for Kerr when he took Mark Jackson’s place as head coach of the team in 2014.