Fisher Leaving

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Jazz will announce in a press conference this afternoon that guard Derek Fisher is leaving the team, The Salt Lake Tribune has learned.
It is not clear if Fisher is retiring or if he's asking the Jazz to release him from his contract, possibly to play for another team.
If he were to walk away from his contract with Utah, Fisher would forego almost $21 million in salary, which was due to be paid to him over the next three seasons.
Fisher, who recently completed his 10th year in the NBA, led an inexperienced Jazz playoff team to the Western Conference Finals, where Utah lost to the finals champion San Antonio Spurs.
Fisher averaged just under 10 points a game through the playoffs, but it was an emotional run, after he disclosed that his daughter had been diagnosed with eye cancer midway through the conference semifinals.
Fisher was picked 24th by the Lakers in the 1996 NBA Draft, and spent his first eight seasons in Los Angeles, before being traded to Golden State. He was acquired by the Jazz in a trade on July 12, 2006. </div>
<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/ci_6283486" target="_blank">
Source</a>

Looks like Mo Pete pursuit just heated up on Utah's part and Dee Brown will be back-up PG

 

Derek Fisher is leaving Utah. They are setting up a press conference this afternoon to announce why and details.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Dark Hero Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Derek Fisher is leaving Utah. They are setting up a press conference this afternoon to announce why and details.</div>

Little Late bud

 

Best of luck to Fisher. He has been a true professional during his time in Utah, and has made the right decision. Life is far more important than basketball and money. The Jazz are surely going to miss him, on and off the court.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Stockton Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Best of luck to Fisher. He has been a true professional during his time in Utah, and has made the right decision. Life is far more important than basketball and money. The Jazz are surely going to miss him, on and off the court.</div>

Agreed. For those of you who don't know, Fisher is leaving because his daughter has eye cancer. I just wanted to make that clear because it wasn't really stated in this thread before.

It could be for the better though (not the cancer, the opening), because Dee Brown deserves a chance at consistent playing time.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Voodoo Child Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Agreed. For those of you who don't know, Fisher is leaving because his daughter has eye cancer. I just wanted to make that clear because it wasn't really stated in this thread before.

It could be for the better though (not the cancer, the opening), because Dee Brown deserves a chance at consistent playing time.</div>

The article that I read on NBA.com, which I can't find the link now, says that Fisher wants to be a free agent and wants to pursure a team near the high end medical centers with the specific needs for his daughter.

Anyways, good luck to him.

Edit: here.... http://www.nba.com/jazz/news/Jazz_fisher_070702.html

 

From his farewell news conference,

"As far as I'm concerned," said Fisher, whom the Jazz will soon formally release from the remaining three years and $20.58 million on his contract, "we come back next year and win the West if I don't have to make this decision."

I'm not sure I agree with it, but that's a big call.

 

So I'm thinking this Fisher thing is kinda fishy. He was leaving the Jazz/basketball for his daughter, and then goes to the Lakers? And the specialized doctor is in New York.... Now he's just farther away.... and if there's one in Cali, that's what, an hour plane ride from Utah? Doesn't make sense. Maybe he wanted the starting PG position in LA? Maybe he didn't like Utah? His wife didn't, I remember him saying that... or maybe he wants to play with Kobe...

 

<div class="quote_poster">Marbire Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">So I'm thinking this Fisher thing is kinda fishy. He was leaving the Jazz/basketball for his daughter, and then goes to the Lakers? And the specialized doctor is in New York.... Now he's just farther away.... and if there's one in Cali, that's what, an hour plane ride from Utah? Doesn't make sense. Maybe he wanted the starting PG position in LA? Maybe he didn't like Utah? His wife didn't, I remember him saying that... or maybe he wants to play with Kobe...</div>

Not at all.

Fisher said when he asked to be released from the Jazz, that he wasnt retiring, and that he would'nt rule out trying to make it onto a team in a city which has the medical facilities to cater to his daughters needs. The specialist doctor he is going to is in L.A, so the Lakers were an obvious choice.

Remembering, his profession is a Basketball player, while he is fairly well off, he still needs to work, which is what he is doing.

He didnt ask to be released simply to go play with the Lakers.

 

<div class="quote_poster">NTC Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Not at all.

Fisher said when he asked to be released from the Jazz, that he wasnt retiring, and that he would'nt rule out trying to make it onto a team in a city which has the medical facilities to cater to his daughters needs. The specialist doctor he is going to is in L.A, so the Lakers were an obvious choice.

Remembering, his profession is a Basketball player, while he is fairly well off, he still needs to work, which is what he is doing.

He didnt ask to be released simply to go play with the Lakers.</div>

This is the first I'm hearing of the specialist moving. Are they doing so because they're following Fisher's money trail, or were they planning on moving to LA before Fisher was released? If it's the former, then why couldn't he have stayed in Utah?