The problem with that is, Fisher is only owed about another $850k this season. $850k out of the total $4.25 million he's owed on his contract is not something he's likely to leave on the table unless Morey plays hardball and threatens not to waive him or buy him out until after the start of next season, killing any chance of a return to the Lakers next year. More than likely, they're haggling right now over the total buyout amount, with the Rockets' chief concern being more about next year's cap hit than the money itself. About 80% of any buyout amount will count against next year's cap if he doesn't waive his player option. I don't think there's any way around that. If Fisher doesn't leave some serious money on the table, there may not be much benefit to a buyout.
And the problem is there is absolutely no reason for Fish to leave money on the table. This is very likely his last contract. He has no promise that anybody is going to offer him even a minimum deal and I doubt they will. Combine that with the fact that he obviously prefers LA and they aren't going to re-sign him back. LA moved him to chop salary. They're convinced he's done. They Do Not want him back as a player. The other thing is his consecutive games streak. I suspect Morey is showing respect towards that and trying to get this done without killing his streak. Now Bima, in light of the salary cap, I'd like to know what you think is the reason that Daryl made this trade. We don't need a pick down at 21-30 to add dead salary. This trade looks like nothing but a favor to the Lakers if you ask me. Why did Daryl make this trade?
So since we traded for him, even if we immediately bought him out, can you say fisher is a former Rocket? When you trade for a player is he automatically part of that team?
He can't show up when they tell him they don't want him to show up, that they want to buy him out. I don't think Fish is doing this. It's the Rockets. Now, Fish doesn't want to be here, I'm pretty sure of that. But he'd show up to get his dough. Like I said, he's not going to leave money on the table at this stage of his career.
McHale goes on to say that determining whether Fisher is supposed to be there is not part of his job. So, not contradictory. By all indications, Morey never seemed to want Fisher in a Rockets uniform.
I agree with DonnyMost. McHale's statement means nothing. Fish is not interested in losing money right now. He's interested in making and keeping every penny.
Actually, he better not. I want all the cap space possible. Why do people want him to show up so we can give this fossil $3.5M next year?
I want him to kill the Lakers because if we go to the playoffs, I'd think we have a good chance of facing them. If he doesn't play like his usual self, we suspend him like Vernon Maxwell. How come no reporter ask Scola if Fisher as a Rocket is going to be a good fit, or something along that line?
They may have kept McHale out of the loop to keep from having any embarrassing comments about Fisher's status before negotiations are done.
Of course Morey's playing hardball. He always plays hardball. He does it with a Moreyball smile but he always does it. Morey always knows his position and only gives in when that position is compromised. The only reason Scola has the contract he does is because within 24 hours we were about to lose him for nothing. Otherwise he would have a Lowry-like deal. Morey does not want Fisher on the books next year and getting him to opt out is the only option. Buying him out even for a lowball amount doesn't help. I am sure you know that but the point is Morey is not lowballing him on next years amount. He wants Fisher off the books next year and he is playing hardball, threatening to keep him here in Houston as a benchwarmer the rest of his NBA career here in Houston. Believe me Fisher does not want that. Morey is smart enough to know that tactic has a shoot of working. Yes 3.5 million is some cash for fisher to walk away from but in a buyout he would be lucky to get 70% of that which means he would be walking away from really more like 2.5 million. If he signs with another team this year he could pick up anther 250,000. Which makes it a 2.2 million hit and then he'd be free to start his life over anyway he sees fit. Moreys betting Fisher has enough cash stashed away that he would be willing to take a 2.2 million hit as opposed to spending the rest of his NBA career in Rocket hell. (Can you imagine Fishers face when he heard the News he had been traded. He had to look sick and then when he heard it was Houston he threw up. That alone almost makes the trade worthwhile.) You got to believe Morey knew this going on, that the last place Fisher wanted to be traded to is Houston. And that he could probably convince him to opt out. As opposed to have to being humbled and going from starter and leader of the team to end of the benchwarmer. I personally think Fisher has to big an ego to do it. Time will tell. But I would be slighyly surprised to see Fisher in a Rocket uniform. And I would be even more surprised if Morey buys him out with out him opting out.
This. Morey essentially sacrificed about $2-3M in cap room next season (the likely end result of a Fisher buyout) in exchange for a pick in the 21-25 range. He'll use that pick either (a) to package with the other pick(s) to move up; (b) to move back to pick up additional/future picks; or (c) to include in a trade for a player. Assuming the Knicks make the playoffs, what would a package of the #15 pick, the #22 pick and Chase Budinger get you on draft day?
Buy him out for he remainder of the year only or not at all. Wait until the off-season so they can try to package him to a team that needs vet leadership or a PG. No PGs in this draft.
BimaThug, I am wondering how the buyout math works if it happens right now (i.e. in the middle of a season) vs. at the end of a season: Specifically, Larry Coon's CBA FAQ says: https://webfiles.uci.edu/lcoon/cbafaq/salarycap.htm#Q63 It seems quite clear that if Fisher is to be bought out at the end of the season, then whatever the buyout amount is counts against next year's cap. However, if they agree to a buyout right now, would the buyout amount be distributed between this and next season? For example, if the Rockets and Fisher agree that they'd pay his remaining 2011-2012 salary ($850K as you said) and $2.4 million out of the $3.4 million for 2012-1013, the total buyout amount would be $3.25 million. Would the CBA then require count 85/425 of the $3.25 million (i.e. $650K) against this year's cap and 340/425 of the $3.25 million (i.e. $2.6 million) against next year's cap? If so, it would seem that doing a buyout now would slightly diminish the cap saving effect of the buyout since when Fisher takes a $1 million discount, but the Rockets would only get a $800K saving in cap room. BTW, Larry Coon also says: I imagine that Fisher's contract says he would receive the salary if he was waived prior to invoking the player option (and that most contracts with a player options say so).
