Posted by Sekou Smith
HANG TIME HEADQUARTERS – Derek Fisher‘s name wasn’t on any free agent hot list outside of Los Angeles.
But his phone was ringing after midnight, just like all the rest of the members of the Class of 2010. The Los Angeles Lakers have a decision to make on their 14-year veteran point guard and his replacements, both Shannon Brown and Jordan Farmar are free agents.
Luke Ridnour, Earl Watson and Steve Blake are all options as possible replacements for Farmar. Fisher and Brown, however, are expected to return, per the Mike Bresnahan and Broderick Turner of the LA Times:
Fisher is the main free-agent concern for a team that is well over the salary cap but definitely wants him back without going too far beyond a $2.5-million deal for next season. Fisher, 35, wants to make closer to the $5 million he earned this past season. The Lakers and Fisher did not agree to terms Wednesday, but there was definitive movement involving two Lakers’ reserve guards earlier in the day.
Shannon Brown officially opted out of a contract that would have paid him $2.15 million next season, making him an unrestricted free agent., and the Lakers decided not to tender a qualifying offer of about $3 million to Jordan Farmar, making him an unrestricted free agent who can also sign wherever he wants.
Just the same, the Lakers called the agent for Brown within minutes of the advent of free agency to also express interest in re-signing him.
Frankly unless anyone cares that much about the regular (pre) season of the NBA, I don’t see Fisher as a handicap. Yes younger players blow past him on a regular basis (but isn’t that what a player like Farmar is for), and yes he can be erratic and streaky in his shooting, but when the real crunch time is there in the playoffs, Derek is MIB (money in the bank) and he has 5 rings to prove it. Fisher (like Odom) is the glue that holds the team together.
you got it son!
When and if the Lakers are going to get rid of Sasha Vujacic? This guy makes 70% 3′s at practice, 60% when the Lakers are up by 25 points, but chokes when the game is on the line (of course, with the rare exception of making those 2 FT’s in the dying seconds of the Finals Game 7. His defense is horrible to say the least.
DEREK FISHER IS ONE OF THE BACKBONE OF LA LAKERS..MANAGEMENT SHOULD TRY HARDER TO SIGN HIM…DEREK IS A GREAT LEADER ASIDE FROM KOBE..HE IS ONE OF THE MAIN REASON WHY THEY GET THIS BACK TO BACK CHAMPIONSHIP WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF THREE PEAT.WHEN IT COMES TO PLAYOFF DEREK EXPERIENCE WILL ALWAYS BE THE KEY.LAKERS ALWAYS PASS THE PLAYOFF SO LAKERS NEED A GUY LIKE DEREK
Westbrook and Serge Ibaka from the OKC Thunder are two players I would try to trade for. They where incredible against the Lakers and I can see them really getting better in the near future.
They can sing the puertoricans Carlos Arroyo and Jose J. Barea. That can be a good fit..
Do you think that OK would consider giving up Westbrook (especially to the same Conference Lakers)? They would ask more than the Lakers would be willing to give.
I do believe that fisher body language is ok and he is in perfect body shape,at the same time I think that experience overcomes speed in this games.I should point out that after 14 years playing in a club and having chemistry with all old players and the leadership in game toghether
with coby was aproof that fisher perfectly fit this LA team.MY point is that regarding point guard issue maybe some point guards in NBA have speed but not many have the creativy and experience in crunch times.I belive that LA LAKERS SHOULD STAY WITH FISHER and maybe they should sign another point guard reserve with the speed and probably stronger body to help and use fisher’s experience not only in opcoming season but also in many years ahead.NOW that this LA team had the championship the team is ready to compete and repat
a few more championships for a few years.Last point in OKLAHOMA city/thunders series I noticed that COBY guarded westbrook and shut him completly,it can be done again also.
by the way big guy it’s spelt KOBE
we need (BIG GAME) derek for leadership and a three-peat!He has shown and proven his” WORTH”!!! rudy gay would be a good aset to us along side derek!!!!!!!
fisher still has 1 more good season left in him. but for a long term replacement i’m thinking of kirk hinrich. he’s a no nonsense defender and a good 3pt shooter.
Yeah, I definitely agree. Kirk would do good in LA. He would fit the triangle.
i disagree…i like kirk bt i think the lakers need a slashin pg who can get to the basket at will n be able to make the right passes……and the also need to fill the backout C spot
FISH X EVER
DEREK IS STAYING IN LA NO MATTER WHAT HE IS LIKE THE CAPTIN AND WITHOUT HIM THE LAKERS LAST 5 CHAMPIONSHIPS THEY WOULDENT OF GOT
I wanna see Nate Robinson in LA and Wade or Bosh in LA and then they should let go of Mbenga, farmer an powell…
I Want some players who are explosive, we need Showtime Lakers again..
I think u are dreaming just a little bit,
I’m a Laker fan too, but salary space is mathematics…we have not so many moves allowed.
I LOVE THIS GAME
Wade and Bryant, two SG, two franchise players, playing together with the same jersey? Are you kidding? I prefer Bosh two thousand times before than Wade
Derek Fisher can play for 2 more years and is a vital part of the Lakers winning 3 in a row. Sign Luke Ridnour and Shannon Brown back and the Lakers will be fine. Plus they’re interested in signing Raja Bell as well who is a good defender and good shooter.
I stay with you.
Lakers remain a title team next year.
Any team with KB24, PAU, RON and Lamar do.
Hi
Oh wow this is exactly my thinkin. Derek Fisher for another 2 years. I definitely want Shannon Brown back. As much as I love Jordan Farmar, he wants more playing time and a lead role so he needs to sign elsewhere. Plus, Adam Morrison and Josh….wow I keep forgetting his last name! LoL those guys are also free agents. Which leaves a little room. Matter of fact, I would love for them to get Trevor Ariza back!!
i want to see Magic, Worthy , and Kareem back along with Kobe
yes, and I want to see kwame and smush back too
I do also like to see them back with KB especially Kareem
Sign Crittenton and Fisher. That’s all they need. Sasha can play as backup pg
We need Fisher no question bout it if we want to go 3Peat, But Shannon Brown is as good or even better than any of the PG free agents out there. If he gets the position as the main backup Pg his game will exceed. He started developing his shooting capabilities and we already know what he can do regarding his athleticism. Shannon can be our future and on top of that hes a hell of a defender and hustler!
I think Lakers should re-sign Derek at all cost and hire another point guard in free agency,Steve Blake will be a good fit since i heard Farmar is leaving the team,also if the rumors is true about Bosh being an addition to the team,they should give up Odom instead of Bynum…
For all those who write they should get Bosh or Wade or Westbrook, please realize this is not NBA FANTASY league whereby players are moved from one team to another. Dumping MBenga, Powell and Morrison, toss in Vujacic and bring Wade to the team— please get your heads out of your lower behind. Its nice to fantasize and dream, but it is not Fantasy league. (I saw someone yesterday writing that the Dodgers should trade for Albert Pujolis – same type of assinie logic- why would St Louis trade Pujolis)
So people with NO basketball of pro athletics understanding, your welcome to write comments, but don;t make an ass of yourself.
We got Pau Gasol as a “gift ” 3 years ago -that is about all we’ll get as gifts for at least 5 years. Top Notch players are NOT going to sign for veterans minimum of 1.5 mil/year and come to the lakers
Right now, give Fisher 2 years at 4.5 mil or 1 at 5.5 he is definitely worth it and certainly more proven than bringing in Steve Blake or Raja at 5.5, bump shannon to 3 mil . Farmar is already gone.
Sasha will need to step up………and we should be good. While the Eastern Conference fight it out with free agents, remember the reason they are doing that is to combat and plan AGAINST the Lakers. Good luck to all. We do need Fish for sure, Brown would be good but its not the end of the world if not.
Fish is needed, Kobe already said Fish is not going anywhere if he has something to do with it—- and he does, believe me. Hopefully Kupchak
bosh and wade are both free agents, if lakers could get cap room they could sign one of them but wade is most likely not leaving miami….
I love fisher, his toughness & leadership but with an explosive pg that can drop 15pts a night and 6-10 assts a game, thats all the Lakers would need. A pg that can drive and dish and create his own shot like Dwill, Rondo, CP3, Baron Davis, Stephen Curry, & if the zen master can tame Rodman and Artest im sure he can do the same for AI. Why not Allen iverson? He can learn the triangle and can learn to be disciplined and responsible and then it would be over!! La for the title for another couple of yrs.
AI wouldn’t be a good fit because he REALLY doesn’t like to pass the Ball, I think it’s time AI sit’s it down he’s not the player he once was.
Fisher is only reliable in the playoffs. he will frustrate the fans & the team in the regular season. he will be just like the earlier season, so lazy drivng to the basket trying to avoid injuries.
YOu have no idea what you talking bout , no one take more charge than Fisher not just on the lakers but the NBA, tough defender, husel for lose balls. I’m happy just to see him on the court that how valueble he is. His game may not be pretty but his results are. When Fisher and Hory lifted LA I know we was in trouble, when he returned I knew championship is back and we did. pretty play don’t win game consistant play do,
If Odom wasn’t already signed, I wouldn’t mind seeing the Lakers do something with him. He was a little disappointing in the playoffs, especially in the finals. Could’ve brought much more to the table.
We Need Fisher back he is the glue that holds it all together and the ONLY player on the team that can go to Kobe and say ” HEY MAN PASS THE DANG BALL!” and Kobe will pass it, that came from Kobe’s mouth he siad Fisher is the Only one on the team other than Phil who can yell at him and he actually listens. We need to keep brown for the future, I’d like farmar to stay but if he wats to go best wishes. He should know that he would only start on a bad or mediocre team and he won’t get a max contract. I don’t understand why ANY player would want to leave the Lakers and they Just wo the last 2 chips, and been to the last 3 and been 8 times. I’d take what they offered me if I could keep winning rings!
Lakers should get rid of Bynum and Odom, make some adjustments here and there and try to get Stoudemire and Bosh. They should let Fisher rest in the bench for a while (the whole season) and bring to the game Shannon Brown. This would be the perfect Lakers team, Brown, Bryant, Artest, Bosh, Stoudemire. Champions 2011.
r u serious where is pu goin on da bench? appreantly u don’t kno basketball
ok this is seriously another example of a delusional laker fan that gives real laker fans a bad name. first off max ( superstar) players are usually limited to 2 per team. merely because of salarycap restrictions secondly why would u give away the clear advantage u have had over the rest of the league in the last 2 years with size and rebounding for one dimensional, unpolished, no defense playing, undersized non rebounding PF (not centr) – stoudemire and another max player at a position (Bosh) u are already stacked at. the reason Phil is successful is his ability to cater to egos but even phil will not be able to handle justify keeping eithr bosh or fish on the bench in crunch time. remember what happened initally when lamar realized he would be a sixth man? the lakers need to address 3 issues, age of kobe and fish, point guard with quickness and health of bynum. Two of these are almost completely out of thier control. Bynum is seeking a different specialist to help him with rehab and injury avoidance. The lakers should however try to make some sort of a move with washington to bring over heinrich as i see him being the best fit They have 3 point guards in Wall , Arenas and Heinrich. Other possible options for backing up fish would be finishing what they started with crittenton, or grabbing a watson,or ridenhour. Something crazy and right up Phil’s alley is getting Iverson as long as he has been humbled and truly wants to win the right way. (Probably wont happpen though as Phil has made comments he is not a real fan of the way he plays)
Lakers MUST KEEP DFISH. He is the Captain and Glue of this Team. We need DFISH to retire here in LA.
DFISH DESERVES what He is ASKING FOR!!! There will always be one DFISH in the HISTORY OF THE LA LAKERS. (period)
Hey, none of you can be more a Lakers supporter than I. I’ve been here since 1969. Here’s the team that’s going to keep L.A. competitive for years to come. Yeah, I like Derek Fisher just like everyone else. However, I’m not in love with any Laker thats going to slow the team down or make it seem “handicapped” for the next ring. I’m very sympathetic to his daughter and their family fight and subsequently, victory over the disease they had to deal with. So, having said that, I’ll keep Fisher for just one more season as a starter. If he wishes to remain, he must make adjustments with the teams’ front office; not the other way around. As for the rest, I would most definitely get rid of Adam Morrison and Jordan Farmar. I’m not ready to see Mbenga go anywhere. He’s an excellent test (in practice) for Andrew Bynum. I would also be open to trade Lamar Odom for Ibaka (with Oaklahoma City). I think we need to keep Shannon for at two more years for player-development purposes (if for no other reason). I just don’t believe we’ve seen his best yet. The Lakers also need to be realistic and understand that Kobe isn’t going to last forever. Therefore, we need two good back-up guards in place to allow for a smoothe transition. If the two drafts won’t be in L.A., then management needs to impress upon them they need to play like from day one. As for Josh Powell, I would also be open to see him traded as well. He’s a good kid and I think he’ll make a good fit for an up-and-coming team (perhaps like Oaklahoma City). The only person left is Pau. Yes, I would definitely keep him, but someone needs to tell the young fella..”you need to eat you quite a few cheeseburgers to pick up around 10 pounds or so. Artest, you and Bynum need to take your behinds in the gym over the summer and get involved in a serious strengthening program. That, ladies and gentlemen, is a recipe for another championship. WE DON’T NEED WADE OR BOSH OR JAMES OR ANY OF THOSE OTHERS. I would however, would like to give Stoudamire strong consideration but, it wouldn’t be necessary.
“if the two drafts want to be in L.A., then they need to play like it from day one”.
correction on above entry
y would u trade odom for ibaka dat’s not even smart u only seen wat ibaka can do once dat doesn’t mean he can do it again and as far as da bynum and artest comments go their the strongest on da team so basically ur saying da whole entire lakers team need to hit da weightroom
Strenghning program for Artest and bynum? They are the strongest guys on the team!
He is saying they are overweight. And they are.
I think the Lakers should try to sign Raymond Felton, he’s a good defender and can pass the ball briliantly. I think he’s one of the most under rated players in the league. He would still have to adapt to the triangle but he could do that ( in the meantime they could sign fisher and have him run the lakers offence a year more) when Felton would have adapted the Lakers would have one of the best rosters in NBA history: Felton, Bryant, Artest, Gasol and Andrew Bynum (if he can stay healthy for a full season) and on the bench two top class players: D-Fish one of the best Playoff performers EVER!. And Odom the guy who has made himself a new role in the NBA he’s a kind of Small Forward – Power Forward combination who can dribble the ball like a PG or a SG. When he’s at his best nobody can guard him. But still signing both Fisher and Felton could mean money problem to the lakers
This is an easy decision to make. Fisher is clutch and is one of the leaders of this team. If he is let go, i dont see any way the Lakers 3-peat. Im still going to be rooting for them even though they are my team but i just dont see it happening. His production may have been down at times but he done so much more for the team, like keep kobe under control at times (end of 3rd quarter in Game 7 vs. Boston).
But as far as the other guards. I dont know why Shannon brown opted out of his contract. Most likely he wants more money but so far, all he has shown were a stretch of good games and some electrifying dunks. If he wants a bigger contract, he needs to show that he can be more explosive off the bench like a J.R. Smith. He needs to do more than just dunk.
Farmar on the other hand, I think, is a pretty decent player. I dont think he can play under the pressure sometimes, playing for PJ. But I guarantee if the lakers dont resign him, he will go to another team and shine. The thing with him, is I think he tries to do too much at times, instead of running the offense and knocking down the open shot, and free throws. He should have one of the highest free throw percentages on the team, but idk what that issue is. But if Farmar doesnt get resigned, I can see a guy like JJ Barea come in and fit with the team, seeing as he is an unrestricted free agent. The other three guys mentioned above may fit as well, but i see Barea’s style fitting with the triangle.
LAKERS 3-peat!!
Yea I’m not sure why Shannon Brown opted out for more money too. It’s not like he “proved” he’s worth more money. Idk. As far as I’m concerned, Jordan Farmar can go. Along with Josh Powell and Adam Morrison. It’s too bad cuz Adam Morrison is an excellent player but we just haven’t seen that. We definitely need to keep DFish for two more years. Keep Shannon Brown. Am I the only one that thinks we should get Ariza back?? Yea right like Houston is gonna let him go….
The best fit for the lakers is the underrated Daren Collison of NO. . He has been the guy for NO when CP3 was out but wasnt recognized. .A guy like him could set the table as easy as CP3 did..He can pass, can drive through the basket and most of all, CONSISTENCY IN THE THREE POINT AREA, which for sure CP3 is not a master of. . so bring him in. . .and BRANDON BASS. .a consistent player in the paint. . He is better than Powell and we knows that. and could be more productive than Odom. .A very great player in Dallas and but was benched in Orlando. . So take him to deepen your roster. .
brandon bass better than powell i don’y think so and he would never be more productive than odom
I believe the lakers will resign fisher. I would like them to bring back SB12 because he showed he can improve for example the game when he started for kobe and had career high on the memphis. Farmar is a good player but he wants to be a starter so he wont be back for lakers. Lakers should condsider getting jerome randle or sherron collins. I would also sign Mcgrady if he is willing to take a paycut.
My bad but jerome randle and sherron collins signed with teams already. Lets get jaravis crittenton lakers first round draft pick back if he comes cheap. keep bynum lets try to trade sasha and luke and keep ebanks.
line up fish, kobe, artest, pau, bynum
bench brown, ebanks, lamar, powell, mbenga
Fisher is undoubtedly the MOST IMPORTANT ROLE PLAYER in LA…Im not disregarding Ron Ron but you see, every time Lakers win championship Fisher is there. In a way he is the ‘Good-Luck’ charm of Lakers…so they should sign him no matter what. For the back-ups I could care less on who they retain. Brown would be less needed since THE MACHINE is back…for pg it would be good if they get another legitimate pg like ridnour..maybe making a push for Felton?
finally some1 who wants collison for the Lakers and Brandon bass starters collison kobe artest Gasol Bynum Bench Shannon Brown, Lamar Odom, Brandon Bass u could trade bynum for bosh also
Brandos Bass is better than Powell? Yes its true .Referring to his Rookie years in dallas. . Thats why Orlando included him in their lineup to add depthness in their fronline in return of an expensive contract. .
Some very interesting posts here. The way i see it, Fisher should stay and start for the upcoming season. As a back up point guard, hinrich would be a good fit but i doubt he is willing to come off the bench and stay there when comes crunch time. IMO, ridnour is a better fit. I would rate him lower than hinrich but he can play great for 20-25 minutes, produce and not making a fuss if he stays on the bench at the end of games.
I think brendan bass would be a nice addition also. he brings rebounding some scoring and toughness. Keeping shannon would be great great but if we have those 2 i would not mind having ridnour/artest/odom when kobe and fisher are on the bench. PJ is back, let’s go for the 3-peat
The lakers then, would have and 8 men rotation when comes PO time, i think that’s enough fisher, kobe, artest, pau, bynum and then odom, ridnour, bass. That beins said, hinrich would be a good fit because he can play both position and more important, guard both position at times (1-2)
Lakers need Derek ..fisher is a clutch player and a good defender..and also a good leader..aside from kobe..derek use his experience while guarding a supertar guard.. DEREK FISHER IS A GOOD ACTOR right!!! hehehe …
I noticed that lot of this big free agents are visiting teams out mostly in the eastern conference. Is that because there Western confernce is a lot more dominant?.Only 7 games seperated the Lakers 1st seed(57-25) to the thunders 8th seed(50-32). Compared to Caves 1st seed (61- 21) to the Bulls (41-41) 20 game difference. Do they figure they have a better chance of going to the Finals? If these players are so great why dont they come to the western conferance and show how dominant they really are?