<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- The Lakers have a new young point guard and might be interested in bringing back one of their old point guards to give the rookie some guidance. The Lakers took Georgia Tech's Javaris Crittenton with the 19th overall pick in the NBA draft last week -- the second straight year they've gone for a point guard in the first round. But they're in search of a veteran at that position, and Derek Fisher, who won three championships with the Lakers, is a possibility. "We're looking around. Free agency is one way to address it. A trade is another way," general manager Mitch Kupchak said Tuesday after Crittenton was introduced at a news conference at Lakers headquarters. The Utah Jazz agreed to release Fisher from his contract Monday so he can concentrate on finding the best care for his 11-month-old daughter, who has cancer in her left eye. "Yesterday is a new development that will be addressed as well," Kupchak said. "We don't know what Derek's intentions are. I really have not sat down and addressed the Lakers' needs in regard to Derek. Our prayers and best wishes are with Derek and his family." Fisher said he wants to live in one of the six or seven cities being considered for Tatum's care. He didn't rule out playing for another NBA team, but emphasized that his daughter's health is his No. 1 priority. Fisher played his first eight NBA seasons with the Lakers before signing as a free agent with Golden State after the 2003-04 season. The Warriors later traded him to Utah. Both Fisher and Kobe Bryant began their careers in 1996, and they were close during their eight years as teammates. Crittenton, a 6-foot-5, 198-pounder who turns 20 on New Year's Eve, averaged 14.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.0 steals in his one season at Georgia Tech. "That one year I spent at Georgia Tech made me a better player, a better person," he said. "I'm confident. I feel like I have a lot to learn. This is a great organization to help me become a better player." "You think of all the great players who have played for this organization -- from Magic [Johnson] to Kobe. I hope to play with Kobe. I hope whatever they need to keep him happens. I feel like I can get him the ball."</div> Source: ESPN
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">He's wearing Smush's #1.</div> yaaaay
Fisher's agent though wants the full MLE for 5 years (meaning a $30 million contract). I think that's too much for Fish.
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">He's wearing Smush's #1.</div> What a sight for sore eyes.
<div class="quote_poster">Jordan-esque Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Fisher's agent though wants the full MLE for 5 years (meaning a $30 million contract). I think that's too much for Fish.</div> No I think that is well worth money to spend. Fisher is a great PG and I wouldn't mind giving him the full MLE. Fisher has great experience with the Lakers.
<div class="quote_poster">Jordan-esque Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Fisher's agent though wants the full MLE for 5 years (meaning a $30 million contract). I think that's too much for Fish.</div> I can't see anyone paying Fisher the money he wants. Maybe Miami would get desperate enough since Fisher thrived playing off of Shaq, but 5 years is a long commitment for Fisher at his age.
I heard that Fisher has his eyes set on New York... Anyways, Smush Parker is a poor man's Jarviss Crittenton
Derek Fisher is by all accounts a very classy and very kind guy, who's gone through a real rough time. That said, from a basketball standpoint, it's worth keeping in mind that the Warriors traded him to Utah because he simply wasn't that good. He has a good spot up three point shot, and can finish under the basket, but isn't very skilled with the ball, and last year, shot a terrible percentage from the field. Because he exuded the bluecollar ethic that Utah fans so love, and because of his inspirational performance in the playoffs, I think people are either reluctant to mention his basketball shortcomings, or simply don't realize. Last year for the Jazz, he started 61 games for them, and scored 10 points per, with three assists. Important to note, though, is that he shot a mere .382 from the field, and only .308 on threes, which is supposed to be his strength. In fact, his career shooting percentage in 11 years is a shade under .400. While he's lauded for his defense, he stands only six foot one, and makes a lot of mistakes gambling on steals and flopping for calls. He was praised for his role in beating Golden State in game two of the playoffs last year, and certainly he was the gamechanging factor, but that isolated performance shouldn't trick anyone into thinking that at 32 he's a five year MLE player. If he and Baron Davis went at it, Davis would prevail 9 times out of 10. The fact that Davis had been logging heavy, draining minutes the entire postseason while Fisher had arrived during the third quarter completely rested was never addressed, but I tend to think that may have played as much of a role in the outcome of that game as anything. Derek Fisher is a great guy, a great teammate, and a great father. But, in all honesty, he isn't, and never has been, a great point guard.
Yep, Monta Man nailed it. Theres a reason why the fans of the teams he plays for despise him, he gets pimped in the national media like CRAZY but hes really quite a bad, selfish player. Very much like Smush Parker on the Lakers, outsiders don't realize that hes actually a negative force much of the time but the fans know the real deal. My condolences to him and his family but I just don't have much good to say about him at all. I was telling Shape the other day that I fully expected him to be out looking to get on a big market team for a big contract, and thats exactly what hes doing. The guy demanded a trade from Golden State because he thought he should be starting (over Baron and Jason Richardson) then complained because we sent him to Utah instead of Miami or Cleveland. He'd be a nice player for the veteran minimum but hes going to want a pretty nice contract and a big role on the team, some sucker will probably fall for him though, Kupchak seems like the perfect victim especially with him looking to score points with the LA fans (signing a "high character" guy who was a former starter on the championship teams).
Everybody wants the full damn MLE. I don't think Fisher is worth it and Crittenton already has 3 or 4 years experiance with the triangle offense. Sure it's at a high school level, but it'll take less time for him to revise it. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Run BJM:</div><div class="quote_post">Kupchak seems like the perfect victim especially with him looking to score points with the LA fans (signing a "high character" guy who was a former starter on the championship teams).</div> I'm in the minority when I say this, but I actually like Mitch and I don't think he's done a bad job. It's fun to take the piss out of him but in reality, he's done a sound job since the Shaq trade. Last season, we were well on our way to 50 wins with a 25-13 record half way through the season and I honestly believe we could have got to 50 wins had it not been for all those injuries. Once you get 50 wins, your chances of making the second round increase exponentially and it's very easy to get there. The only criticism I have of Mitch is the Shaq trade, we should have got Wade, but thats all in the past now.
<div class="quote_poster">Montaman Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Derek Fisher is by all accounts a very classy and very kind guy, who's gone through a real rough time. That said, from a basketball standpoint, it's worth keeping in mind that the Warriors traded him to Utah because he simply wasn't that good. He has a good spot up three point shot, and can finish under the basket, but isn't very skilled with the ball, and last year, shot a terrible percentage from the field. Because he exuded the bluecollar ethic that Utah fans so love, and because of his inspirational performance in the playoffs, I think people are either reluctant to mention his basketball shortcomings, or simply don't realize. Last year for the Jazz, he started 61 games for them, and scored 10 points per, with three assists. Important to note, though, is that he shot a mere .382 from the field, and only .308 on threes, which is supposed to be his strength. In fact, his career shooting percentage in 11 years is a shade under .400. While he's lauded for his defense, he stands only six foot one, and makes a lot of mistakes gambling on steals and flopping for calls. He was praised for his role in beating Golden State in game two of the playoffs last year, and certainly he was the gamechanging factor, but that isolated performance shouldn't trick anyone into thinking that at 32 he's a five year MLE player. If he and Baron Davis went at it, Davis would prevail 9 times out of 10. The fact that Davis had been logging heavy, draining minutes the entire postseason while Fisher had arrived during the third quarter completely rested was never addressed, but I tend to think that may have played as much of a role in the outcome of that game as anything. Derek Fisher is a great guy, a great teammate, and a great father. But, in all honesty, he isn't, and never has been, a great point guard.</div> This is an excellent analysis. The Lakers would be better off spending the MLE on Blake.
