Mr Herrera always finding the little gems. You have slowly become one of my favorite posters here. If we can buyout Fisher for 3 million and split the cap hit over 2 years that is acceptable.
I think the calculation is that an extra $2-3 million in cap flexibility isn't really worth much to the Rockets. The bottom line is that, with or without the $2-3 million cap hit, the Rockets options are essentially the same: they can have room to chase a max player (at this point, the only "max guy" on the market is Deron Williams) if they aggressively slash salary (letting Dragic and Lee go, waive Dalembert ($1.5 mil guaranteed) or alternatively trade away Scola or Martin for less salary in return or amnesty one of them). My guess is they make a pitch to Deron Williams. If he wants to be a Rocket, then they proceed to make cap room for him. If not, then they mostly focus on bringing back their guys on favorable contracts and keeping the rest of the cap room available for in-season trade opportunities (like the Pacers did shis year).
While I think you greatly overestimate how much Fisher cares about the Rockets organization, I actually agree that Morey might be taking this hard-line stance. People talk about players not liking Morey, but if he does this, it may reach a new level. Here's hoping he doesn't care and that it doesn't adversely affect free agents wanting to sign here. Hoping DD is right. I'm assuming you're talking about a guy like Bradley Beal, for whom we'd need to get, say, the #7 or #8 pick. OMR, if it was just for a Marcus Morris level guy (who, in fairness to you, Morey had about #8 on his draft board), I think Morey would roll the dice on a similar caliber player falling to #15. And with Bud locked up at the league minimum salary, he'd rather just hang on to him. I actually think Morey might possibly view KEEPING Fisher for next season as preferable to an unfavorable buyout. Better to keep Fisher around as a backup PG to Lowry in case Dragic is priced out of the Rockets' range this summer. That or, like cod says, offer him in trades on draft day or this summer, either (a) as a PG for that team or (b) as a buyout candidate for the receiving team, with Les ponying up the cash to cover the buyout. If it's a draft day deal involving Fisher and cash, the Rockets would still have their full $3M allotment for 2012-13.
I absolutely believe this is what is happening in the Fisher situation. It's like a big game of chicken with one side waiting for the other to flinch. The one thing that worries me, though, isn't that Morey will lose the stalemate and have Fisher choose not to opt out. Really I worry more about the fact that Morey's playing this game with the president of the Player's Association. Fisher's not stupid, and I could definitely see him sending out a memo to the entire PA warning them off of dealing with the Rockets because of this kind of stuff. So in that sense, even a short term victory could result in long term damage to the team.
All correct, CH (although I think you meant that a $1 million discount from Fisher would equal $200k in cap savings). Unfortunately, OMR, it doesn't work that way. Since Fisher is only still owed about 25% of his 2011-12 salary (the rest having already been lost to the lockout or already paid), they can't split the buyout amount 50-50. It's got to be split 20-80 across this year and next. Bingo, CH. Bingo.
The vet minimum being about $1.1 million, I'd think this would be a reasonable discount for Fisher to agree to in a buyout. He is pretty old now, but should at least be able to get a veteran minimum contract from a team in the league still. If so, then his loss of salary will be entirely offset by what he gets from a new team.
He doesn't hate Houston, he just wanted to stay in California where he has primarily been for nearly 20 years. The only reason he went to Golden State was that they paid his an insane amount of money. Having said that, the guy wants it both ways, the big pay day and dictate where he plays. I have no respect for him. He used his child to avoid going to Utah and I suspect he has done it since. Now he and the Rockets are discussing a buyout. As far as people saying he doesn't like the city of Houston, that is false, when we had Yao Houston was one of the places he said he would go, of course he used the excuse that Houston could "treat" his daughter. Whatever, Fisher has never been that good, the only difference between him and Tyrone Lue is that he was drafted into a fantastic situation. The guy has been garbage for 5 years... Even Aaron Brooks raped him in the playoffs. Last, dude looks like a fatter version of Ravon Simone.
What I mean is that, if a buyout if reached today, the $1 million discount from Fisher would mean a $200K cap saving for this year-- which would be meaningless, and a $800K saving for next year. This would mean that 20% of the buyout amount would be wasted. If so, given the same $ discount, it would be better for the Rockets to keep Fisher on the books for the rest of the season and only execute the buyout agreement at the end of the season. If Fisher wants out earlier in order to play elsewhere this year, he will need to give up some additional $ in order to give the Rockets some incentive to do so.
No way, McHale and Morey were tight before we named him coach, he knows what is going on. They speak all the time and Morey wouldn't leave his head coach hanging. I suspect Morey saw this as a win-win situation. We needed a veteran back up point guard, so If he reported he would play, if he didn't we buy him out.
It's not so much his apathy towards the organization. It's having to leave LA and his celebrity behind to come to HOUSTON, a team who's most famous celeb in the stand is Chuck Norris. And then to just another guy at the end of the bench as opposed to being a leader on the Lakers. That may be a bitter pill to swallow. Plus there is no reason to buy him out now if he is not going to opt out. We could actually use him right now. A lot. Also the Morris comment was more of a joke. Or dig at what a lottery pick gets us under Morey. I do believe Morey is better than that. Oh and by the way when other people were bitiching on Morris not showing much yesterday. I was pleased with his minutes. He didn't show anything superior but I loved seeing him hustle and try to play d and theres no question at the 3 spot he would be a physical specimen. I think more than anyone he could use an offseeson and we should see beter things from him.
Let's say the worst case scenario happens, and Fisher refuses to be bought out, opts in. We pay him 3.4 million, and he sits on the injured list the entire year, and hits the open market the summer of 2013. (Barring some kind of trade, which I can't see happening) He will be 39 years old going into the start of the 2013-2014 season and won't have put on a uniform in nearly a year and a half, certainly no one will sign him and he will be forced to retire. So, the question is, is it worth about $1-1.5 million to Fisher to effectively retire this way? Or would he rather be bought out, and sign a more modest deal elsewhere, and finish his career on his own terms (albeit with a slightly slimmer wallet). Morey is banking on him wanting out, and I would be too, but we're dealing with a total jackass con-man, so I'm not putting anything past him.
LOLOL. We should sign him and send him to the odom dleague and put him at the end of the bench there. He can't be wearing our jersey.
im glad he is showing how much of a douche he is, it justifies all the bad talk about him on here lol i personally dont know much about him
In my opinion, he's got more value to us as a tradable expiring contact. I can see us using his contract a salary fodder to send out with Scola/Lowry to help complete a trade for Gasol our some other max player.
Derek Fisher to be bought out Updated: March 18, 2012, 10:26 PM ET By Ramona Shelburne | ESPNLosAngeles.com The Houston Rockets are finalizing a buyout with former Los Angeles Lakers guard Derek Fisher, according to a league source. Fisher, 37, had played in 537 consecutive games prior to being dealt to the Rockets. NBA Rumor Central ESPN Insider can help you keep up with the latest NBA info. Check back often for the latest buzz. Rumor Central Fisher had made no public statements since his surprising trade from the franchise he'd won five championships with. Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak admitted that he hadn't given Fisher or his representatives a heads up that a trade was in the works, and that he understood if he was "emotional" over the situation. "He may have caught wind of the rumor a day or two ago, but there was no heads up given," Kupchak said on Thursday. "It's not necessary, because a lot of times there's nothing to the rumors. How many times was one of our players traded in the last 10 days and it never took place? So you can't spend your time dispelling or confirming rumors. "But when something like this does happen, I can imagine what he's going through. I've never really gone through it, but to be in one place, to have the kind of contribution, midseason, it's got to be pretty emotional. We'll talk at the right time." Fisher would normally have had 48 hours to report to Houston for a physical for the trade to be completed, however the Lakers and Rockets mutually agreed to extend that deadline to 72 hours, a source with knowledge of the situation told ESPNLosAngeles.com. Fisher had a $3.4 million player option for next season and is expected to be officially waived Monday. Fisher would the be free to sign with any other team but the Lakers if he clears waivers by Wednesday. Fisher has no plans to retire and hopes to sign with a contender should he clear waivers, the source said.
