ALERT: A news conference has been scheduled for 11AM Friday to formally announce Derek's return to a Laker uniform. Read the following related article Where have you gone Derek Fisher, our Laker Nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
It was odd when Derek Fisher left the Lakers after a run bringing 3 World championships to Los Angeles. Drafted with the 24th pick by Jerry West in 1996, he was with the Lakers for 8 years before he parlayed his success to a free agency contract that was to rich for the Laker blood. So he left for Golden State. Shaq was gone. Then Derek was gone. For some reason it was more odd seeing Derek in a Warriors uniform than Shaq in a Heat jersey. Derek was family, and he just wasn't wearing the right colors anymore.
He was later traded to Utah where he eventually became the backup point guard to a younger faster version of himself. It was like watching a family member who had left home and was lost wandering in the wilderness. Where did Derek Fisher go and how come he is not in Los Angeles? It never did seem quite right. If ever there was a guy who should have started and finished as a Laker it was Derek Fisher.
He never was the fastest, the best, a dead eye shooter, or a huge assist guy, he was just effective. A quality person who was always there when you needed him. He was always there when you needed a big shot to save the day or an assist to get the win, or a flop to stop the opposition. He bled purple and gold. So on the day he signed to leave we all sort of said.... huh!
But now our long lost brother is coming home. Instead of being a part of a Lakers Championship Team, he is now a part of the puzzle to try and save the franchise from oblivion. A good friend to Kobe who will try to calm his anxiety about the future of the franchise. He will again become the starting point guard only to eventually give way to Jordan Farmar or Javaris Crittenton. Eventually, He will once again give way to a younger faster version of himself. His shooting percentages that were once respectable dropped off last year, only to come back, but only for the playoffs. At age 33, does he still have some mojo in his tank? Enough to help lead the Lakers back to a deep run in the playoffs? Enough, to hang on until Javaris or Jorden are ready to take over the reins and lead the team further still? Enough to teach our young kids what it means to be a champion PG for the Los Angeles Lakers? I know he has enough to put the family back together again. In a strange way Derek Fisher just may become the spiritual leader of the team. The glue that holds all the pieces back together. If another big trade is coming, where several players may come and go, he will be the guy who will have to turn a bunch of strangers into a new the new Laker family.
Kobe is the warrior, but he just isn't all that good at the family part. He is like the brother who is strong but wanders emotionally and needs to be reigned back in on occasion. For Derek this will be a tough assingment. Is Derek up for the challenge? The Lakers are betting what little they have left that he is? Without a blockbuster trade there is no money in the cap space till to go out and get another player who is capable of making a difference. Drafting Javaris and signing Derek is it. We might have a few shackles left over to sign a role player like Chris Mihm, but a big impact can now only be done if Lamar Odom, Kwame Brown, and or Andrew Bynum are gone. In any trade package, it is likely that one of our three other PG's will be included in the deal. So one of either Sasha, Jordan, or Javaris will be gone as well.
So the confusion over what the Lakers are now going to do is over. We all can focus on one thing. The Trade. If it comes, will be give up to much? Will we get the right player? Will we get the player we want? Do we get KG? Will JO be the guy? Will they have to take a chance on Ron Artest? Whoever it is, Derek will be there to help make it work.
JamFan
