http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1836272 His deal to become Lakers head coach still not complete, Rudy Tomjanovich is already working to stop the damage from the Lakers' tumultuous offseason. Tomjanovich is to meet Thursday with Lakers free-agent Derek Fisher in Los Angeles, the guard's agent, Mark Bartelstein, told ESPN's David Aldridge. Fisher, 29, opted out of the remaining two years of his contract after the NBA Finals and became an unrestricted free agent, meaning he can sign with any team without Los Angeles having an opportunity to match. The Houston Rockets are among the many suitors for Fisher, who wants to start for a team and may not be able to in Los Angeles next season after Gary Payton opted to return. Fisher's miracle shot with 0.4 seconds left in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals beat the Spurs and helped propel the Lakers to the Finals. Tomjanovich is putting the finishing touches on a contract to replace Phil Jackson as head coach of the Lakers, settling on his assistant coaching staff. Current Lakers assistant Kurt Rambis may be retained, while the future of assistants Frank Hamblen and Jim Cleamons is less certain. Assistant coach Tex Winter, one of Jackson's longtime confidants, has already announced his retirement.
I can just hear it now: "You saw how they dumped me, didn't you? Come play for me and my offense which caters to good all around players like you"
This is like playing against your brother!! or A mother watching her two sons play in the finals against eachother!
I hope they hit a snag in details and he doesnt sign. Rudy is a Houston icon. It would be sad when we played them. Like wanting your fantasy players on a certain team you hate to do good but the team to lose.
He can keep his Fisher. If history is any indicator, he'll probably give the guy a big 6yr contract anyways
Why would Fisher stay with the Lakers? He wants to start. How many teams can he start for? On top of that, how many competitive teams can he start on? He'd be crazy or a liar to stay with the Lakers.
LOL, wouldn't surprise me one bit. EG signs with LA and smokes us everytime we play them. Collier will be effective for about 10 minutes a game off the bench, and they would both be cheap.
That's also what I don't get. They keep trying to go after these PGs out of FA, yet Payton is STARTING! All these PG signees are going to be BACKUPS!!
So it begins. Trust me on this, Rudy will go after Yao when his contract expires. I doubt the Rockets will let him walk, but there will be a lot of talk of Yao going to La La Land and playing for Rudy again. The Rockets will regret the day they let Rudy go. Somebody mark my words.
I think just about everyone will be going after Yao and it seems like the Yao to LA talk has been going on since his first season. Nothing new really
Oh my God. Rudy is going to take all the guys he failed to turn into good NBA players and turn them into good NBA players, and they're going to kill us. Mark my words, Yao will bolt and go play for the coach who kept him on the bench all year so a 6'3" dribbler could lead us to the playoffs. Pass me the hanky.
How do you mark someone's words? I didn't know Fisher was only 29, we really need to get him, I think he has the Mario Ellie team leader and miracle shot maker quality.
We better sign any lesser-league players we may want right now since Rudy will be snatching up all the future Chucky Browns very soon too.
