Los Angeles Lakers part ways with Derek Fisher – an era comes to an end: NBA Update
"I want to express my deepest gratitude to Derek for everything he has meant to this organization over the years,"
Los Angeles Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss said in a statement after it was confirmed that the team has shipped 16 year franchise veteran Derek Fisher and the first-round pick acquired from Dallas Mavericks in the Lamar Odom trade
to Houston Rockets to get back up centre Jordan Hill.
"Few who have worn the Lakers uniform have done so with as much class as Derek, both on the court and in the community.” He added. “From his famous 0.4 shot in San Antonio to his clutch performances in the Finals against Orlando
and Boston when it mattered most, Derek will always hold a special place not only in my heart, but in the heart of Lakers fans everywhere."
Ever since the season started and especially after the nixed Chris Paul trade, the Lakers had been at the centre of the trade rumours, but till last night, all of them were circled around power forward Pau Gasol. The move came
after the Lakers first dealt Jason Kapono, Luke Walton and their 2012 first-round pick to Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for 25 year old point guard Ramon Sessions and forward Christian Eyenga.
With Sessions - averaging 10.5 points and 5.2 assists as a reserve this season - onboard, the Lakers had four point guards, Steve Blake and rookie Darius Morris being the other two and from a purely franchise interest point of
view, Mitch Kupchak, the general manager at the franchise decided to add more depth among the bigs by trading Fisher.
He did admit afterwards that it was hard decision for him;
"I'm concerned, yes," Kupchak said in a news conference Thursday afternoon. "I'm not sure that it will translate into a team that performs any less ... but, you can't underestimate Derek's contribution from a chemistry point of
view and on the court that he's given to this organization. It can't be underestimated, and you can't say that this team is going to wake up tomorrow and play as if he was never here."
Jordan Hill, at 6 ft 10, is a decent centre who is averaging 5.0 points and 4.8 rebounds in 14.7 minutes per game this season and will have to compete with Josh McRoberts and Troy Murphy for minutes of the bench.
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