After a brief flirtation with the Miami Heat, Derek Fisher is reported to be leaning towards signing a new two-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Fisher didn’t even spend a full day in Miami after flying out on Saturday to meet with Pat Riley. Staying just long enough to learn the Heat would pay him less and that he’d have to be the voice of reason on a roster ruled by spoiled basketball brats apparently put off D-Fish enough to accept a pay cut in order to remain a Laker.
It is only fitting that Fisher accompanies the Lakers on their championship send off for Phil Jackson. After all, neither Kobe Bryant nor PJ himself have won a title in L.A. without Fisher on the roster.
With Jordan Farmar on his way to the Jersey Shore and Shannon Brown still in negotiating limbo, Fisher’s return looms large as Steve Blake and Sasha Vujacic are the only other guards currently on the roster not named Kobe Bryant.
Update: As expected, Fisher and the Lakers have reached an agreement on a two-year contract with a third year as a player option. Terms of the deal have yet to be disclosed, though Fisher had the following to say of his new deal.
"“While this may not be the most lucrative contract I’ve been offered this off season, it is the most valuable.”"
Of course, there is also the KB24 factor as well.
"“At the end of the day, there’s one person I could not turn away from. Kobe Bryant asked me to stay but supported whatever decision I made.”"