Steve Nash's child support battle with ex-wife, Alejandra Nash, continues even as Nash just ended his first season with the Los Angeles Lakers after they were eliminated by the San Antonio Spurs, 4-0, in the first round of the NBA playoffs. But while Nash is hesitant to have Alejandra move to LA because she might spoil their kids, he's already publicly making the case for free agent center, Dwight Howard, to return to the Lakers next season.

Howard will be a free agent this summer and he's expected to field offers from Dallas, Houston and other teams with enough cap space to afford the max salary Howard seeks. But while Nash told the Los Angeles Times "I think this is the place for him [Howard]," he's been reluctant to have his ex-wife and kids move from their home in Phoenix to join him in Los Angeles.

While Nash was competing against the Spurs' point guard, Tony Parker, in the first round of the playoffs, he was also determined to keep further child support payments from his ex-wife Alejandra. He isn't avoiding the payments like a lot of celebrity "deadbeat dads," but he's doing so in an effort to keep his three kids from the spoiled excesses that have hindered other children of athletes and stars.

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Nash isn't leaving his ex-wife and children on the street to starve though, as he's already paying for their nanny plus an additional $30,000 a month for expenses. He even joined the rival Lakers from the Suns last summer in an effort to stay close to his kids, who remained with their mom in Phoenix. But Nash doesn't want them to join him in Los Angeles because he's currently embroiled in this child support battle with Alejandra, and the California courts always side with the mother in these cases.

Despite receiving $30,000 a month from Nash, Alejandra is petitioning the courts in Arizona for more, since Nash brings in nearly a a million dollars more as part of the 3-year $27.9 million contract he signed after a sign and trade deal with Phoenix and Los Angeles last summer.  

If Alejandra moves to Los Angeles, the California courts are much more liable to increase the child support payments Nash is currently paying. It's not that Nash doesn't want to provide for his family, he's just worried that his ex-wife will spoil their kids if she's given what she wants. 

While Nash would love for Dwight Howard to stick around so the Lakers, with Kobe Bryant coming back from a torn Achilles tendon tear, can make another attempt at a title next year, he's hoping his ex-wife stays in Phoenix. If she moves to LA, he'll most likely be forced to pay her more in child support, which will then allow her to indulge their kids' every whim. The Canadian Nash does not want "spoiled" kids.