Farewell to Fisher
For starters, credit Derek Fisher for flying all the way to Salt Lake City with his wife for Monday's news conference. He had to turn around immediately and return to New York, where his daughter was scheduled to undergo treatment Tuesday starting at 6 a.m.
That's a stand-up thing for the president of the players association to do. Probably 95 percent of players would have asked the team to hand out a statement to reporters. Fisher talked for maybe 20 minutes uninterrupted before taking questions.
It's the first round of treatment for his daughter since May 28, according to Fisher. If you remember, he flew to San Antonio for the Jazz's elimination game against the Spurs after his daughter underwent treatment.
There's so much to go over. We'll start with the timing of the decision. By announcing things on July 2, Fisher's able to try and recoup as much of that $21 million as possible. He's hoping to find a team that'll pay him some chunk of their midlevel exception.
Fisher said in his news conference, "I'll kind of be at the mercy of what's left once everything is finalized," but he has positioned himself to at least entertain bidders, though he is looking for a special situation with his daughter's care.
Of course, Fisher also has made $33 million in his career (added that up on deadline) and had enough in the bank to donate $700,000 to Arkansas-Little Rock, his alma mater, back in April 2005.
At best, you've got to think Fisher will get a deal in the neighborhood of three years and $10 million. He walked away from possibly $11 million, which is why owner Larry Miller refuses to question his motives, even if he did initially think it was "Derek Harper Round 5."
Said Miller: "It's unlikely that he's going to re-sign for what he's walking away from, and he knows that. Now I think it's also unlikely that he won't play anywhere. He'll play someplace. He's too good not to and too many teams need a veteran point guard."
Fisher had been impossible for some Jazz staffers to reach since the end of the season. I know because I tried to set up a story about his daughter's first birthday last week through the team's public relations department.
The Jazz called Monday's press conference on an hour's notice - - leading to speculation about the futures of Jerry Sloan and Andrei Kirilenko - - yet Fisher was able to have a representative from a public relations firm in Los Angeles attend?
I'm going to guess that Fisher winds up back with the Lakers. He was the conscience of their championship teams and is still beloved in L.A. The Lakers have a starting point guard job that's open and there's no learning curve for Fisher with the triangle offense.
Fisher's agent, Mark Bartelstein, said Fisher would not be sitting out next season and probably would sign during this July window for free agents. Bartelstein wouldn't say what cities would fit Fisher's needs but it's safe to assume they're New York, Los Angeles, etc.
Steve Luhm, checking in from vacation, gives us a list of NBA cities with retinoblastoma treatment centers: Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, Memphis, Tenn., New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Toronto.
* * *
Kevin O'Connor, the Jazz's senior vice president of basketball operations, offered his thoughts on seeing Fisher in another team's uniform next season. "We'd sign him again," O'Connor said to whatever laughs anyone could muster.
I asked if the Jazz had discussed trying to help facilitate Fisher taking part in his daughter's care while still playing in Utah. Fisher was dead-set against his family being in one city while he played basketball in another, as common as it is in the NBA.
"We asked all those questions and we went through all of those things," O'Connor said. "There's no hidden agenda here. This is somebody that's probably going to lose money and this is somebody that lost a player. But he did it for his family."
Bartelstein praised the Jazz for making an unprecedented situation work out. "What Derek did was remarkable," Bartelstein said, "but what the Jazz did was equally remarkable." Fisher loses millions in being released from the contract but the Jazz get nothing for him.
That's not exactly the step a Western Conference finals team wants to take. Miller said he considered Ronnie Brewer as Fisher's replacement at two-guard. "I think he's good enough that he deserves some time," Miller said. "At least find out what he can do."
Fisher was due to make $6.4 million next season and his departure has to increase the likelihood that the Jazz will spend the full midlevel exception ($5.5 million) on a free agent.
The Jazz already have Deron Williams to play 40 minutes a game at point guard, so that leaves the Jazz back looking for a shooting guard. Miller would like to find a combo guard that can play some at the point - - have to have three point guards, remember.
Fisher's contract wasn't the worst for the Jazz to dump, which is why the Jazz were supportive of the move. Fisher was looking at being a $7 million backup for the final three years of the deal.
Miller also said striking Fisher's contract from the books could help in future summers when Williams comes due for a major extension. The Jazz all of a sudden go from a $60 million payroll to $54 million for next season, right at about the NBA's salary cap.
* * *
There obviously was some affection for Fisher with his teammates. He spoke of going out for dinner a couple of weeks ago in Los Angeles with Carlos Boozer, Deron Williams, Jarron Collins and all their wives.
It was the first time, Fisher said, that he'd ever heard of that many teammates going out together during the summer. At the end of his remarks during the news conference, Miller extended a hand and told Fisher, "Just don't forget about us."
* * *
There was some news Monday that didn't make the paper. It looks like the Jazz might not have as easy a time as they would have liked in re-signing 20-year-old guard C.J. Miles.
Miles's agent, Billy Ceisler, wouldn't talk specifically about interested teams, but did say that the amount of interest around the league has been "validating about who and what he is." That is a potential starting two-guard in the near future.
Miles is a restricted free agent, giving the Jazz the right to match any offer he receives. "I think restricted obviously is hurdle," Ceisler said, "but it's not a hurdle in terms of [having conversations] and trying to figure things out."
--Ross Siler
That's a stand-up thing for the president of the players association to do. Probably 95 percent of players would have asked the team to hand out a statement to reporters. Fisher talked for maybe 20 minutes uninterrupted before taking questions.
It's the first round of treatment for his daughter since May 28, according to Fisher. If you remember, he flew to San Antonio for the Jazz's elimination game against the Spurs after his daughter underwent treatment.
There's so much to go over. We'll start with the timing of the decision. By announcing things on July 2, Fisher's able to try and recoup as much of that $21 million as possible. He's hoping to find a team that'll pay him some chunk of their midlevel exception.
Fisher said in his news conference, "I'll kind of be at the mercy of what's left once everything is finalized," but he has positioned himself to at least entertain bidders, though he is looking for a special situation with his daughter's care.
Of course, Fisher also has made $33 million in his career (added that up on deadline) and had enough in the bank to donate $700,000 to Arkansas-Little Rock, his alma mater, back in April 2005.
At best, you've got to think Fisher will get a deal in the neighborhood of three years and $10 million. He walked away from possibly $11 million, which is why owner Larry Miller refuses to question his motives, even if he did initially think it was "Derek Harper Round 5."
Said Miller: "It's unlikely that he's going to re-sign for what he's walking away from, and he knows that. Now I think it's also unlikely that he won't play anywhere. He'll play someplace. He's too good not to and too many teams need a veteran point guard."
Fisher had been impossible for some Jazz staffers to reach since the end of the season. I know because I tried to set up a story about his daughter's first birthday last week through the team's public relations department.
The Jazz called Monday's press conference on an hour's notice - - leading to speculation about the futures of Jerry Sloan and Andrei Kirilenko - - yet Fisher was able to have a representative from a public relations firm in Los Angeles attend?
I'm going to guess that Fisher winds up back with the Lakers. He was the conscience of their championship teams and is still beloved in L.A. The Lakers have a starting point guard job that's open and there's no learning curve for Fisher with the triangle offense.
Fisher's agent, Mark Bartelstein, said Fisher would not be sitting out next season and probably would sign during this July window for free agents. Bartelstein wouldn't say what cities would fit Fisher's needs but it's safe to assume they're New York, Los Angeles, etc.
Steve Luhm, checking in from vacation, gives us a list of NBA cities with retinoblastoma treatment centers: Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, Memphis, Tenn., New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Toronto.
* * *
Kevin O'Connor, the Jazz's senior vice president of basketball operations, offered his thoughts on seeing Fisher in another team's uniform next season. "We'd sign him again," O'Connor said to whatever laughs anyone could muster.
I asked if the Jazz had discussed trying to help facilitate Fisher taking part in his daughter's care while still playing in Utah. Fisher was dead-set against his family being in one city while he played basketball in another, as common as it is in the NBA.
"We asked all those questions and we went through all of those things," O'Connor said. "There's no hidden agenda here. This is somebody that's probably going to lose money and this is somebody that lost a player. But he did it for his family."
Bartelstein praised the Jazz for making an unprecedented situation work out. "What Derek did was remarkable," Bartelstein said, "but what the Jazz did was equally remarkable." Fisher loses millions in being released from the contract but the Jazz get nothing for him.
That's not exactly the step a Western Conference finals team wants to take. Miller said he considered Ronnie Brewer as Fisher's replacement at two-guard. "I think he's good enough that he deserves some time," Miller said. "At least find out what he can do."
Fisher was due to make $6.4 million next season and his departure has to increase the likelihood that the Jazz will spend the full midlevel exception ($5.5 million) on a free agent.
The Jazz already have Deron Williams to play 40 minutes a game at point guard, so that leaves the Jazz back looking for a shooting guard. Miller would like to find a combo guard that can play some at the point - - have to have three point guards, remember.
Fisher's contract wasn't the worst for the Jazz to dump, which is why the Jazz were supportive of the move. Fisher was looking at being a $7 million backup for the final three years of the deal.
Miller also said striking Fisher's contract from the books could help in future summers when Williams comes due for a major extension. The Jazz all of a sudden go from a $60 million payroll to $54 million for next season, right at about the NBA's salary cap.
* * *
There obviously was some affection for Fisher with his teammates. He spoke of going out for dinner a couple of weeks ago in Los Angeles with Carlos Boozer, Deron Williams, Jarron Collins and all their wives.
It was the first time, Fisher said, that he'd ever heard of that many teammates going out together during the summer. At the end of his remarks during the news conference, Miller extended a hand and told Fisher, "Just don't forget about us."
* * *
There was some news Monday that didn't make the paper. It looks like the Jazz might not have as easy a time as they would have liked in re-signing 20-year-old guard C.J. Miles.
Miles's agent, Billy Ceisler, wouldn't talk specifically about interested teams, but did say that the amount of interest around the league has been "validating about who and what he is." That is a potential starting two-guard in the near future.
Miles is a restricted free agent, giving the Jazz the right to match any offer he receives. "I think restricted obviously is hurdle," Ceisler said, "but it's not a hurdle in terms of [having conversations] and trying to figure things out."
--Ross Siler
1:08 AM
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