[Berman Reports] Fisher Spokesperson Said Rockets Wanted Him Back

Carl Herrera · 03-19-2012, 12:32 AM

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/spor...nt-with-fisher

I call BS on this. No way they want him back next season at $3.4 million.

drumbum · 03-19-2012, 12:38 AM

It's kind of frustrating to see that Fisher's camp is trying to make it look like he rejected us.

We wouldn't have bought him out if we wanted him. The organization has more leverage on him than he does on his.

This Fisher trying to make it seem like he didn't get dropped by a team.

Sad.

Cstyle42 · 03-19-2012, 12:38 AM

Funny how Fisher says he desires a 6th chAmpionship but playing for the Rockets just clearly would not give him that! Basically said F the Rockets I want to win.

**Clutch** · 03-19-2012, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drumbum

It's kind of frustrating to see that Fisher's camp is trying to make it look like he rejected us.

They have to. He has to try to do something to make himself look attractive to teams. Cracks me up how they specifically made it look like the Rockets wanted him to take his option. Right.

Simple as this: If the Rockets wanted Derek Fisher (and he refused to report like this), ESPECIALLY for next season, they'd have the deal rescinded. They didn't. End of story.

mvpcrossxover · 03-19-2012, 12:44 AM

How did this guy became the Pres. of nba players union?

Never got that Lakers attitude out of him.

swyyyguy · 03-19-2012, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cstyle42

Funny how Fisher says he desires a 6th chAmpionship but playing for the Rockets just clearly would not give him that! Basically said F the Rockets I want to win.

um, he was right.

BimaThug · 03-19-2012, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clutch

They have to. He has to try to do something to make himself look attractive to teams. Cracks me up how they specifically made it look like the Rockets wanted him to take his option. Right.

Simple as this: If the Rockets wanted Derek Fisher (and he refused to report like this), ESPECIALLY for next season, they'd have the deal rescinded. They didn't. End of story.

I actually think this story makes sense, from both parties' perspectives.

Assuming the premise that Derek Fisher would inevitably exercise his player option, and further assuming that Fisher would not leave a ton of money on the table in a buyout, then it actually makes MORE sense for Fisher to play for the Rockes than to be bought ought.

After a buyout, the reduced portion of Fisher's $3.4M salary will count as "dead money" against the Rockets' cap next season. Even if you then go out and sign a guy to the league minimum salary to play 2nd or 3rd string PG, if you add that minimum salary to the dead money spent on Fisher's buyout, you're probably right back to--if not OVER--the $3.4M they would have had to pay an active Fisher, who is capable of being the primary backup to Lowry (15 mpg?) if the Rockets are unable to re-sign Dragic.

In the end, unless either (a) Morey negotiated a VERY favorable buyout or (b) the Rockets organization just really didn't like Fisher on this team, then this story makes sense to me, since the alternative gives the Rockets less flexibility.

And guess who likes more flexibility?

Shroopy2 · 03-19-2012, 12:54 AM

Quote:

"After much discussion and expressing their desire to welcome Derek to their team this season as well as the 2012-2013 season, the Houston Rockets and Derek have negotiated a buyout," wrote Jamie Wior, Fisher's spokesperson, in her statement.

"Derek's desire to win a sixth championship is what drives him and will continue to drive him as he moves forward. We thank the Houston Rockets front office for their interest, time and their absolute professionalism.

Read more: http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/spor...#ixzz1pXTvF739

Can I do this, huh? Please, can I?

"

"

Carl Herrera · 03-19-2012, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clutch

They have to. He has to try to do something to make himself look attractive to teams. Cracks me up how they specifically made it look like the Rockets wanted him to take his option. Right.

Simple as this: If the Rockets wanted Derek Fisher (and he refused to report like this), ESPECIALLY for next season, they'd have the deal rescinded. They didn't. End of story.

Easy way to tell: If Rockets wanted him to stay, but Fish wanted his freedom, the buyout $ would be low. If the Rockets wanted him gone and he wanted to earn the full $, the buyout would be higher.

BleedRocketsRed · 03-19-2012, 01:04 AM

A true professional and class act.

Spacemoth · 03-19-2012, 01:08 AM

Rockets have the leverage here. If we eat his salary and bench him for the Laker scum he is, then we effectively retire him. No one will sign a 35+ year old guy 1.5 years removed from active playing (unless his name is Michael Jordan).

This way he still gets to find out if anyone wants to even pay him the minimum to get his current craptastic level of play + "veteran leadership". I still bet that, aside from the Lakers pulling a Brent Barry with him, no one else will have any interest. He'll get his vet min for the remainder of this year and be forced into retirement next year anyways. Overall though he makes money, so long as the amount he gave up in the buyout is less than the prorated vet min contract he gets later on.

cdastros · 03-19-2012, 01:14 AM

I think the Rockets actually wanted his expiring contract more than D. Fish the player.

knote32 · 03-19-2012, 01:25 AM

Of course they wanted Fisher.

Invaluable experience and leadership for our young guys.

Don't be dense with me Carl...

Carl Herrera · 03-19-2012, 01:38 AM

Quote:

The Rockets had acquired the Lakers icon on Thursday afternoon with the hopes of convincing him to stay with them the remainder of the season. Houston currently sits eighth in the Western Conference and hoped his locker room presence would help them make the playoffs and influence what had been a relatively young roster. They also have a need for another point guard while Kyle Lowry recovers from a bacterial infection over the next few weeks.

Fisher was genuinely torn by the situation, according to a source close to Fisher, which is why the Lakers and Rockets mutually decided to extend the deadline for him to report by 24 hours.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/77...yout-agreement

My guess is the Rockets wanted him for the rest of the season-- good back-up, his salary is irrelevant for flexibility purposes this year. However, they probably don't mind losing him next year at all (still decent backup PG, but his $3.4 million salary would affect their cap flexibility somewhat.

thetatomatis · 03-19-2012, 01:40 AM

Nope. I highly doubt he was anything but a one year rental. If that. I am starting to suspect this is for him to not lose so much value around the league. Rockets would have bought him out anyways or released him at the end of the year. The worst thing for a player to happen is for the trade not to b for their services. It was not. It was for the draft pick the Rockets got and Fisher is next to nothing in value for the Rockets. A throw in.

meh · 03-19-2012, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carl Herrera

Easy way to tell: If Rockets wanted him to stay, but Fish wanted his freedom, the buyout $ would be low. If the Rockets wanted him gone and he wanted to earn the full $, the buyout would be higher.

My thought as well. If the Rockets have to pay full money for Fisher next year due to crappy buyout, they might as well keep him on the team. After all, even a minimum player would cost more than keeping Fisher as a 3rd PG.

This supposed "interest" from the Rockets only serves to make sure Fisher cough up some extra dough to ensure his freedom.

thetatomatis · 03-19-2012, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meh

My thought as well. If the Rockets have to pay full money for Fisher next year due to crappy buyout, they might as well keep him on the team. After all, even a minimum player would cost more than keeping Fisher as a 3rd PG.

This supposed "interest" from the Rockets only serves to make sure Fisher cough up some extra dough to ensure his freedom.

Not even. All you have to know is that he was traded here, did not comply with the trade, had no physical, the Rockets did not rescind the trade. Rockets did not rescind the trade because it was not for him or they would have. It was for the draft pick.

meh · 03-19-2012, 01:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thetatomatis

Not even. All you have to know is that he was traded here, did not comply with the trade, had no physical, the Rockets did not rescind the trade. Rockets did not rescind the trade because it was not for him or they would have. It was for the draft pick.

Of course the Rockets made the trade because they're willing to eat his full $3mil salary for next year, which the Lakers were not. But once he's on the team, Morey has to do his best to save the team as much money as possible next year. And that's where the negotiations come from.

If anything, the Rockets would love to see Fisher not comply. Because they don't have to pay the guy any money if he's pissed.

koopa · 03-19-2012, 02:57 AM

Derek Fisher didn't want to join the rockets because the rockets aren't good enough for him for championship push. Why doesn't camby do that?? he's older than fish...because he's professional and not a bitch.

Old Man Rock · 03:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meh

My thought as well. If the Rockets have to pay full money for Fisher next year due to crappy buyout, they might as well keep him on the team. After all, even a minimum player would cost more than keeping Fisher as a 3rd PG.

This supposed "interest" from the Rockets only serves to make sure Fisher cough up some extra dough to ensure his freedom.

That extra dough was he opted out. Everything happened to fast. Morey didn't offer him money for next year. And he was happy with it. That sly little devil said, Hey we want you! Lowry is sick and we really need you. Please come to camp and at least check out Houston.

And Fisher said I;m really not interested in playing there. Is there anyway we can work something.

And Morey Man Fish we really need you right now. We're not interested in buying you. Come give us a try. If you donot like it you can opt out this summer. And Fish said man I really would just like to be bought out.

ANd Morey says Man FISH I really really think you'll like it here. And we really really want you. But (long pause as he slips the cattle prod in) if you insist on a buyout the only way I can do that is if you opt out.

Fish says You want me to walk away 3.4 mil. Morey says No. Absolutely not! We really really want you hear. We really really need you. ANd Fisher says so if I opt out you will release me. And Morey says Yes but that not what we want. We really want you. And then pauses and says, Hey why don't you sleep on it. We'll extend the buyout 24 hours and you can get back with us tomorrow. And Fisher does that and then calls back and says, my decisions made up I'll opt out just buy me out now.

And then Fishers agent announces to the media, "After much discussion and expressing their desire to welcome Derek to their team this season as well as the 2012-2013 season, the Houston Rockets and Derek have negotiated a buyout... Derek's desire to win a sixth championship is what drives him and will continue to drive him as he moves forward. We thank the Houston Rockets front office for their interest, time and their absolute professionalism."

Man I'm starting to love Morey. He is the Jedi Master of negotiating!