The NBA can be a cutthroat business where it’s imperative to look out for your own interest above all else and the Toronto Raptors made a bold statement to that effect Tuesday.

By making an offer of a three-year contact worth close to $20 million (all figures U.S.) for restricted free agent swingman Landry Fields of the New York Knicks, the Raptors have potentially blocked the Knicks from the legitimate pursuit of Steve Nash and moved to shore up a deficiency in their own roster.

There is significance to the offer on a variety of levels as the Raptors continue their dogged pursuit of their top free agent target: Phoenix guard Steve Nash.

There were reports the Suns had coveted Fields in a sign-and-trade deal with the Knicks for Nash; if the Knicks match the offer for Fields, league rules forbid them from putting him in a sign-and-trade deal.

via Doug Smith of the Toronto Star