Lakers: Derek Fisher Would Be the Worst-Case Scenario for LA
Despite his strong ties to the Purple and Gold, Derek Fisher is not the ideal coach to fill the Lakers’ head coaching vacancy
As the Lakers begin their search for a new head-coach, there is a plethora of qualified candidates available, each bringing their own unique attributes to the table. Luke Walton brings the glitz of Golden State, while Ettore Messina represents the stability of San Antonio. Even cast-off coaches like David Blatt and Jeff Van Gundy have their own positives qualities.
One name that has been mentioned, however, should not even be in consideration for the job. That coach is Derek Fisher. The problem is, Fisher being hired, or at least considered, isn’t hard to imagine by any means.
When the Lakers hired Byron Scott, they chose him over more qualified candidates on the basis that he was a Laker. Throughout his two horrendous seasons fans were constantly reminded of the rings he won as a player, and how deep his connection was to the Lakers organization. This, however, is no way to run a business, as the Lakers learned when all of Byron Scott’s “Lakers blood” translated to the lowest win totals in franchise history.
Choosing Derek Fisher would be an eerily similar choice to Byron Scott, in that his primary claim to the job comes purely from his career as a player. His ties to Phil Jackson could potentially suggest he has the ability to be a solid coach, but nothing from his stay in New York reinforces that idea in the slightest.
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The biggest problem with Derek Fisher is his propensity to create drama and dysfunction. After the tumultuous season the Lakers just suffered, the last thing they need is more drama. Whoever the Lakers new coach is will have to deal with the aftermath of the incident involving D’Angelo Russell and Nick Young, as well as win over a locker room that had turned in large part against the previous coach.
As a coach in New York, Fisher was involved in an altercation with Matt Barnes regarding Barnes’ ex-wife, which became a major distraction for the new head coach. In the time surrounding his firing, rumors began to swirl regarding Fisher’s involvement with girlfriends of players on his team, namely Cleanthony Early and Tim Hardaway Jr. While these rumors were never verified, the fact that so many off-court issues cropped up surrounding Fisher should be a significant red flag.
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With a young team in desperate need of stability and unity, hiring Derek Fisher would be the worst possible choice for the Purple and Gold. The Lakers should not even expend resources on the process of interviewing Fisher, but should instead spend their time and effort investigating the many qualified options that are available to them.