LOL! It's amazing how the same names keep coming up at the same time. Guess who Derek Fisher's agent is?
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http://getgarnett.com/blog/?p=451

Lakers among the teams interested in James Posey
Published by The Nuggetat July 3, 2007 in Articles.

Miami Herald: There’s at least a chance the Heat won’t watch a second free agent bolt to another team without getting something — or someone — in return.

The agent for veteran forward James Posey said Monday his client would agree to be used in a sign-and-trade deal if the Heat was unwilling to offer a new deal to stay in Miami.

Posey has attracted interest from Utah, Dallas, Denver, New Jersey, Cleveland and the Los Angeles Lakers, agent Mark Bartelstein said.

Posey is an unrestricted free agent and free to deal with another team without having to work out an arrangement with the Heat. But Bartelstein said Posey is willing to wait for the best opportunity.

”When it gets to this time of the year, you have to have an open mind about everything,” Bartelstein said. “[Posey] would like to go back to Miami, but he’s going to make the best decision he can for him.”

East Coast Jessie,

Truth be told, BK and I actually don't have the ability to go through each post and omit all the "ridiculous" ones. We simply don't have time to read each one carefully. But beyond that, what are you referring to when you say "ridiculous?" Just to clarify?

Thanks,

AK

WOW

“I'm not like Mamba that is respectful, I'll cut straight to your BS facts and you incompetence when it comes to bball knowledge. Stay away from me man. I don't play that sh8t. And you are right I am menstrating, which even means back the back off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

understood boss. Midol?

BOB

“This is only a request and I’m sure it will fall on deaf ears but please don't speak of your hate for Kobe when talking about D-Fish and the situation his family is in.”

why do you assume DFish actually would read this blog when he’s dealing with real life issues? Man, lighten up.

WATERBOY

“I didn't know you were privy to Derek's decision-making process. Are you sure it wasn't because of the much-deserved contract Cupcake won't give him?”

dude, I don’t need to have a PhD on basketball pshycology to know that when a shaq leaves, “them other guys” will have no reason to stick around. just look at the roster from 2004 and 2005. it’s not rocket science. also, look at the roster for the past 3 season. it’s not rocket science either. NOBODY OF STATURE WANTS TO PLAY WITH A SELF-ABSORBED KOBE BRYANT.

BENNY BLANCA

“No matter the subject, you can find a way to SLAM kobe. That said, i don't disagree. It was just a bit unexpected, as i scrolled through the messages of well wishing, "please come backs" and WHAM!”

Hey, I truly do wish Fisher well and I’ll always remember Dfish as a class act. Hell, I repect Fish in b-ball history 100x more than kobe Bryant and I’m being 100% sincere.

JUNO

“So KL... move to another state if you can't stand Kobe being a Laker. Looser!!!”

Ju-Know what, juno? Why doesn’t kobe move to another state? I was here first.

STEVEN IN DENVER

“r someone who claims to be in the financial industry, you seem to have very little common sense or insight.”

I guess it’s a matter of interpretation on the lever of “common sense” or “insight”.

GUNNER24

“FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY FISH IS THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF A TEAM PLAYER BOTH ON AND OFF THE COURT.

Fish is one of my all-time fav lakers.

KL and Gunner (The new Kobe and Shaq)

I can't wait for basketball to start to shut you haters up. Its easy to talk all this mess you want when no bball is been played. You both know Kobe will be on the lakers team, so evantually yall don get what you want. You will only rant and rant and get under people's skin for nothing. But wait till we start playing some bball again, you haters will eat those words of yours. Yall have no bball sense. This is my last post to the two of you ever. We will let the work on the bball court do the talking. You two are great motivators for people that love challenges. You say so much smack that you inspire your opponents to come back stronger. Just know someone is working to shut your mouths up. While you sit and type on your comp, the person that has to walk the walk is preparing to walk the walk, and we will see when november comes.

Kl,

At least you know how to take order, proves the lil bit*h you are.

Andrew Z,

On second thought, you are right -- the Chinese National Team isn't that good. Still, if I had to trade Kobe, I'd do it for Yao and Shane. Again, don't know if the Rockets would be willing to take that.

tha show,

haha.. i guess there might be a slight Asian bias -- but really, that kinda wore out long time ago for me. Also, I don't really respect what Yi Jianliang's camp is doing with the holding out on Milwaukee and I don't even know if Sun Yue will be any good.

I am however, waiting for a Korean baller who isn't all nice and stuff. Like I want a Korean Iverson -- not a 9'11" center.

If we can't get KG, then I say get rid of Kobe. I am only wanting Kobe to stay now if we can get KG. Because that combo would be so nice to watch. But really, I threw in the towel for my hopes of Kobe changing his attitude. All my friends were right all along. My years of defending him have literally dried up.

If we can't get KG, trade Kobe for any of these possible scenarios:
(none of these have gone thru the Trade Machine)

Kobe for Yao Ming and Shane Battier (doubt Rockets would do this)
Kobe for Amare and Barbosa (doubt Suns would do this -- but MAYBE)
Kobe for Elton Brand + someone (doubt Kobe would agree nor would Lakers FO)
Kobe for Kevin Durant (yes, this may seem crazy and unplausible but if we are gonna rebuild, might as well take a nice one -- Kobe would reject this and also Sonics would reject this right away)
Kobe for Oden (see Durant)
Kobe for LeBron (of course Cavs would NEVER do this)
Kobe for .. it just doesn't work...

We will NEVER get equal value and if we could get anything near it, either Kobe will reject it or the other team will. A Kobe trade is nearly impossible.

Man, I just wish Kobe could shut the heck up. If we can't trade him and we don't get Garnett, and he keeps on pouting -- I say we just bench him for a year.

GO LAKERS!!! <--- the TEAM not Kobe Byatch Bryant

Andrew Z,
"I absolutely feel that Dr. Busss would pay the luxury tax if it was worth it and he received a player(s) that would enable the Lakers to compete for the title. "

I used to think that, but then he let Shaq go. (And the Lakers would have definitely been a contender, if not the favorite, if Shaq had stayed.)

And Fisher would have been great on a young team that was building towards being a contender in a couple of years, and he let him go.

best wishes to Fisher and his family. our prayers for a speedy and full recovery to his little girl Tatum. Fisher is class and professionalism. hope to see him back to Lakers one day.

AK/BK can you please explain how the Jazz released D-Fish from his contract and how he is now a free agent? I thought that was not possible in the NBA? I thought the team and the player had to agree to a buy out of the contract?

It isn't like the NFL where you can just release/waive a player. Can either of you explain the technical specifics of this?

Hey AK/BK,

Is there any chance you could start a new topic above this one? I'm saddened that people couldn't put the armchair GM stuff aside for one topic and just focus on sending prayers and good wishes to Derek Fisher and his family. Much like Lamar's tragedy last summer, D-Fish is being forced to learn where basketball falls in the hierarchy of the important things in life. Obviously, he made the difficult choice to leave a guaranteed contract to focus on his daughter. I've always admired him, and today, that admiration has increased even more.

I realize our insane Kobe obsession has given us a severe case of tunnel vision, but I find it offensive to read hopeful speculation that his daughter's cancer will somehow bring D-Fish back to the Lakers. I'm sure that's the last thing on his mind. As for cancer, I've been through a similar crisis; my three-year old nephew contracted neuroblastoma, a virulent lymphatic cancer, and he nearly lost his life. Thanks to the oncologists at Children's Hospital, Los Angeles, he is still alive and about to celebrate his 21st birthday. Unfortunately, many of the children on his ward didn't survive, and my heart will never recover from watching so many sweet and beautiful children die on a weekly basis. My nephew went through a year of chemo, radiation and underwent a bone marrow transplant. The consequences were severe: at 20, he is only 5'3", his body has never fully developed, he is sterile, he suffers from a form of epilepsy that is common to childhood cancer survivors, and he will most likely not live a long life.

Cancer is a horrible illness, and retinoblastoma is particularly brutal. I'm sending every hope and prayer for a healthy recovery to Derek Fisher, and I hope you all do as well. Cancer knows no cultural or economic differences, and the Fisher family is learning that that hard way. It also doesn't matter whether you love or hate Kobe Bryant or who will be the starting point guard for the Lakers next season. Try to remember that before we return to our daily obsession with all things purple and gold.

JayJay,
1) Fisher is not a long-term solution.

2) The Lakers are not allowed to have those types of discussions with players on other teams, when they aren't free agents yet. Of course, if you don't mind losing the first round pick for the next 3 years ...

3) At this point with the Lakers, using the entire MLE on Fisher would not be wise, unless they can get him for a max of two years or so.

Ex,

The Shaq thing was a toss up to me. Again, who knows what would have happened had he re-signed Shaq in regards to Kobe leaving. If presented with an old and untradeable (and really expensive Shaq) or the younger Kobe, I think he made the right choice. I guess it boils down to whether or not Kobe would have stayed a Laker. If Buss knew 100% that Kobe would re-sign if Shaq was extended, to keep pushing for titles together, I think he would have re-signed Shaq. That's why I think there was something that led to Buss feeling that Kobe would leave if Shaq left.

As for Fisher's deal, I think Dr. Buss made the right choice. At the time he was still operating under the clear cap space plan (ahemcrapahem) and that contract was a killer (still is).

I don't blame Dr. Buss for not wanting to go into the luxury tax, it's his business. But at the end of the day, if going into the luxury tax would make financial sense I think he would do it.

I hope everything goes well for the Fisher family. I hope Lakers management and players call Fisher for support. I hope they can work out something in the future with Fisher. They will get Garnett. LAkers 2007-2008: Kobe, Garnett, Farmer/Fisher, Walton/Radmanovic, Mihm/Turiaf/Gasol

Derek Fisher, a whole lotta love goes out to you and your family.
These posts here are the ones I wish the players actually did read,
because you all (Laker Fans) have huge hearts and it restores my belief
in the human race to see such an out-pour of love and kindness.

DFish all the best to you, love and prayers to Tatum.

Derek was a great teammate and although he deserved Payton’s minutes in the last season here, we hardly knew it from his reactions. A huge friend of Kobe's, the Fish is class and has delivered in many ways to support and encourage this team throughout the years. His heart is right there next to Ronny Turiaf, another great friend to Kobe. It always amazes me that the hardest working guys can somehow have mutual respect and admiration for each other and somehow there are so many others that get singled out...and ridiculed for lack of effort.
Hmmmm interesting theory. Hard work rewards confidence and trust in relationships, while laziness and lackadaisical attitudes and aloof personalities are spited for their lack of commitment. Damn that sure does sum up Kobe and MJ vs. everyone they have ever played with. Derek was a great role model and is still worth bringing to the Lakers especially to set the tone for a positive working environment. God Knows Kobe and Phil have had the right motives but without actual examples on the team of what a good teammate is, we have lost a lot of love in the locker room. Kobe is a great player but has never been a great person to get along with, way too self-centered. Guys like Fish can buffer his arrogance and keep others from taking so much of the brutal criticism so harshly. Best of Luck to you and yours Derek please come home.

JayJay,

Nobody, including the Jazz, seemed to see the Fisher situation coming. And the discussions apparently didn't begin until last Sunday, three days after the draft. To fault Kupchak for not drafting with Fisher's situation in mind is ridiculous.

AK

I've had the pleasure of meeting Derek. It's no news flash that he's a gentleman. "Gentleman", a word almost never associated with an athlete that isn't a golfer. He emits a calm that is palpable which the present Lakers could use.

He's a Kobe vet. He has Kobe's respect. I've said it before, but I think it's a distinction that means something, especailly now.

He's an option you can't ignore in crunch time. He's a voice on the court, a guy that gets calls, the benefit of the doubt. He's loaded in categories that stats don't measure. You can talk dollars and contracts all day but this man should have remained a Laker.

Typical Derek Fisher, he's doing the right thing now. He's tending to what's important. His daughter's condition could last beyond his playing window. We can be confident that if he does decide to play, that will also be the right thing to do and the Lakers would be lucky to have him back.

RONLO

“KL=johnny buss!!. He hates Kobe because jerry buss gave kobe and 23 yo blonds more attention than him”

I thought it was Jim Buss? Either way, pretty funny. Think Jerry’s going senile with the penile?

THA SHOW

“no asian bias whatsoever, right?”

at least David isn’t hiding behind a screen name like “KL” or “tha show”……..kidding. don't get mad.

WOW

“You both know Kobe will be on the lakers team, so evantually yall don get what you want.”

I actually want kobe to remain a laker so kobe can finish what he started (breaking up the dynasty so kobe can be the man) and lead the lakers. kobe in my mind is a coward. kobe broke the cookie jar and now is running away to let someone else, anybody, to take the hit. Kobe figured that once shaq was out, kobe would lead the lakers back to 3 more championships and when it became apparent that it takes a complete team and a winner/leader to win at the highest level, kobe stuck his tail between his skinny legs and now wants to play for the Bulls, Phoenix or Dallas. Why doesn’t kobe ask Stern to put kobe on the Spurs squad of 2007 as a de facto contributor to the Spurs championship run because of the laker downfall? Hell just erase the history book and put Kobe on the Spurs squad in lieu of Bowen.

“You two are great motivators for people that love challenges.”

You're assuming your hero remains a laker. Hell, kobe won’t relent on his trade stance and you’re still kissing the dude’s butt.

“Just know someone is working to shut your mouths up.”

I want to eat crow my friend.

“While you sit and type on your comp, the person that has to walk the walk is preparing to walk the walk, and we will see when november comes.”

3 years going on 4 in the kobe-era.

“At least you know how to take order, proves the lil bit*h you are.”

what happen to the last post about "never" responding to me again? already backsliding? admit it, you love me like i love kobe?

KOBE APOLOGIST=KOBE’S TOILET

Homer-Lisa skit was da shizzle. man, I’m going to miss hammering on kobe once he’s out like trout. at least I’ll be able to enjoy rooting for the lakers again without having to feel like a sellout.

Tao,
"don't you think Fisher is the perfect solution for the Lakers?"

He has slowed down somewhat defensively, and is on the "old" side.

He would definitely be an upgrade, but not long term. I wouldn't give him the MLE, unless it is only for a couple of years. His attitude would be great to have.

exhelodrvr,

Don't give him all of the MLE, but part of it. I have a feeling that Fisher's decisions now won't have much to do with the money. The last thing on his mind is money. He has a more pressing matter that has put life in clear perspective for him. I'm not saying that the Lakers should abuse that, BUT realize that this isn't about financial gain. I would give him about 75% of the contract he was currently serving. That would be decent considering the situation. I wuld make it heavily weighted on the second and third year, in order to leave room to get a second player on the same exception. Forinstance, give him 3mil/yr 1, and increase it 1mil the each of the next 2 years following with player options. That would give him a 3yr./12mil package.

Use Fisher as a bridge for Farmar and Crittenton just like Harper was for him. It makes good sense. He could be for them what McKie was supose to be. However, he is actually healthy and already knows the offense and the main people on the team. He could tell them how to play with Kobe or what to do in what situation.

San Antonio did that with Avery and Parker. It just makes sense when you have the opportunity to do that.

HAHAH what idiot suggested having the Chinese National Team as the Lakers??? Yi Jingaling, Yao Ming and Sun Yoo? are you kidding? They cant even beat summer league teams.

I rather see them assemble spain.

Drafted: Rudy Fernandez, Marc Gasol
Trade for Pau Gasol
Trade for Juan Calderon
Sign Juan Carols Navarro

PG Calderon/Navarro
SG Kobe/Fernandez
SF Luke
PF Odom/Garbajosa
C Gasol/Gasol

haha see if we can get garbajosa with calderon

haha now that team would be the USA all stars..haha

AK,

I'm referring to ridiculous posts such as the numerous ones above where people are personally insulting each other. None of that has to do with sports, the NBA, or the Lakers.

It's just really annoying but I understand you can't review every post.

Thanks!

I have an adjustment to the Battier Trade.

Lakers offer Sun Yue, Sasha Vujacic, Maurice Evans, Brian Cook and future draft picks for Shane Battier and Bonzi Wells.

If the Lakers sign Fisher for AT LEAST part of the MLE, look at what the Lakers would have.

PG: Fisher, Farmar, Crittenton
SG: Bryant, Wells
SF: Battier, Walton
PF: Odom, Radmanovic, Turiaf
C: Bynum, Brown, Mihm

That team is suppose to be much better than the one that just exited the first round again. It would probably totally surprise the NBA if the Lakers were able to pull off these changes. In essence, all they would have done is made 2 serious moves, but that would be enough. I know some are going to totally rip this up and say either that Fisher is too old, Houston won't let Battier go, or something else. I'm sure something will be said to criticize this deal. Perhaps it will be said that Wells is no good, or that Bynum Brown and Mihm aren't enough at center. Well, I believe that it COULD work and I believe that it is worth a try. Considering the position that the Lakers are in right now, it is a reasonable way to improve the team enough to become more competitive at the very least.

Ventriloquist,

I think Wow has surpassed you as ripping me the biggest a$$hole on this blog. LOL.

AK

Can we have another thread? I don't feel right talking about ball here, it's Fish's "wish you all the best" thread. Where essentially, basketball is really just a little thing called entertainment.

"...at least I’ll be able to enjoy rooting for the lakers again without having to feel like a sellout."-KLBeast

Unfortunately, that's a profound statement.

I'm a Lakerfan first. Kobefan second. I'll never sellout my team.

I wish D Fish the best. I can't see him changing his mind as far as playing with Kobe though. I wish he would.

Go Lakers!