Caught in the Web: Detailing Derek Fisher's trip to Miami
-- The Times' Mike Bresnahan and Broderick Turner report that the Miami Heat want Derek Fisher to be their starting point guard. But it remains unclear how much they could pay him.
-- The Times' Mark Heisler argues that as LeBron James has taken heat for "The Decision," Kobe Bryant's reputation has improved.
-- ESPN Los Angeles' Andy and Brian Kamenetzky talk about the "Super Team" in their latest podcast.
-- ESPN Los Angeles' Dave McMenamin and Ramona Shelburne report the Heat are willing to hold off other offers until Fisher makes a decision. They also report the Lakers have made a second offer to Fisher that's worth more than the one-year, $2.5-million offer that they originally proposed.
-- Fox Sports West's Matt Smith believes the Lakers are still the NBA title favorites.
-- The Daily News' Elliott Teaford reports that the Minnesota Timberwolves are also interested in Fisher.
-- The South Florida Sun Sentinel's Ira Winderman reports that "there is an expectation from all sides that Fisher will wind up back with the Lakers after this well-publicized dalliance, which likely will wind up as nothing more than a bid to drive up his value."
-- Forum Blue and Gold's Darius shares some thoughts on Summer League.
-- Silver Screen and Roll's DexterFishmore believes Fisher's meeting with Miami served as nothing more than a negotiating tactic.
Tweet of the Day: "Did Wade say the best trio ever? That would require, at minimum, for Bosh to be a Hall of Famer like Worthy Magic, Kareem" -- daldridgetnt (NBA TV's David Aldridge)
Reader Comment of the Day: "Miami is praying the Lakers blow Fishers free agency. They want him badly. He's one of their missing pieces, and know if they sign him, they weaken the Lakers as well. Kobe is demanding we keep Fisher and emphatically stating we MUST have him to win again. Nothing wrong with debating his worth. Wanting him to go is silly." -- Fatty
--Mark Medina
Follow the L.A. Times Lakers blog on Twitter: twitter.com/latmedina. E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com.
Photo: Free agent guard Derek Fisher met with Miami Heat team owner Micky Arison and team President Pat Riley at a posh South Beach hotel Saturday Credit: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images.
Does anyone know if Bynum had his surgery? Several weeks have passed by. We need him to be healthy for the season. He always gets hurt around the All Star game time.
Posted by: basketball citizen | July 11, 2010 at 05:45 PM
Hope you didn't drink the Kool-Aid in Miami, Fish!
Posted by: Mo | July 11, 2010 at 05:51 PM
Lakers need to stop fooling around and get Derek Fisher resigned. Fisher is a big reason Lakers got the last 5 championships.
Posted by: los angeles | July 11, 2010 at 05:57 PM
I AGREE 110% WITH YOU LAKER TOM. OKAFOR FOR ONE CAN PLAY PF OR C WHICH GIVE ANDREW A BACKUP ALONG WITH PAU (SOMTHINGODOM CAN'T DO.) AND ALLOWS PAU TO CONCENTRATE MORE ON PF. IMAGINE IF ALL PAU HAD TO DO IT WORRY ABOUT PF. ALSO ABOUT COLLISON.... HIS STATES SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.37 GAMES DON'T LIE. 19 AND 10 AS A ROOKIE. AQUIRING THESE TWO GUYS ALONG WITH TMAC AND GETTING RID OF WALTON IN THE MIX SECURE US NOT ONLY A 3 PEAT BUT A SHOT AT A 4 PEAT AND SO ON. I LOVE FISH BUT AS A PG HE NOT GOOD. ID LIKE TO SEE THEM BRING HIM BACK TO BE KOBE'S BACK UP AND A CLUTCH TIME PG. NOT THE STARTER.
C/BYNUM/OKAFOR/MBENGA
PF/PAU/CARACTER/POWELL
SF/ARTEST/TMAC/EBANKS
SG/KOBE/FISH/ANOTHER VET MIN.
PG/COLLISON/BLAKE.
QUESTION: CAN WE TRADE SASHA FOR TMAC TO THE KNICKS VIA SIGN AND TRADE???
Posted by: Dano | July 11, 2010 at 06:05 PM
LAKERS ARE THE CHAMPS BABY, FISH WILL COME BACK, FUCK THE HEAT, AND THEY'RE DISLOYAL TRIO, BUNCH OF LOSER. LA ALL DAY
Posted by: Michael | July 11, 2010 at 07:04 PM
>>>>Marc B (With a 'C')
EXCELLENT post about CBA and how it applies to the current Laker free agents.
There's only one thing that I'm not sure but you might have gotten wrong.
Jordan Farmar.
By not giving Jordan a qualifying offer, the Lakers lose the right to match any offers for him, but I believe they still have Bird rights to him. So they could still make an offer to him all the way up to a max offer.
This is actually important, in the event that both Fisher and Brown sign with other teams. If they do, then the Lakers still have the right to offer a contract like Farmar 2 years at 5 million each (or a contract matching Blake's or whatever.
I know that sounds unlikely and more than he's really earned, but what it comes down to is that they couldn't get anyone as good as Farmar for 1.8 million, which is all they have left to spend. If they can't get Fish or Shannon back, then getting Farmar would mean they'd keep one player who knows the triangle, and with Fish gone, I'd bet Farmar would be willing to re-sign, since he'd have a decent chance of starting.
Posted by: LongTimeLakerFan | July 11, 2010 at 07:25 PM
Oh, and the Biannual was used on Shannon Brown last year, so they can't offer one this year.
Posted by: LongTimeLakerFan | July 11, 2010 at 07:26 PM
Marc B,
If I was the Lakers, I'd sign Ebanks for more than the minimum 2 years. Seriously, I'd offer him a 4 year deal. He's going to be a bargain either way, but it would great to have one inexpensive roster player to go with the huge contracts of Kobe & Pau & Bynum & Odom.
I might consider doing the same with Caracter. I'm still not as completely sold on him, but I could see him being similar to Paul Millsap or Carl Landry.
Posted by: LongTimeLakerFan | July 11, 2010 at 07:31 PM
>>>So can we sign Miller? Great breakdown, but I'm too dizzy, ha, ha!
Only if he'd agree to sign for 1.8 million or less.
Posted by: LongTimeLakerFan | July 11, 2010 at 07:33 PM
Derek Fisher you is a trader you been with the lakers almost your whole life
Posted by: Brianna Johnson | July 11, 2010 at 09:23 PM