Exit interview: Derek Fisher expresses disappointment over owners' new collective-bargaining proposal
Lakers guard Derek Fisher said he was "hopeful" and optimistic" that there wouldn't be any form of an NBA lockout once the current agreement expires on June 30, but he said that shortly after expressing "disappointment" over the owner's recent 10-year proposal.
"We’re disappointed in the context of it, but we’re still full steam ahead in trying to get this thing figured out and get a deal done," Fisher said. "In terms of a timeline and how things will unfold, it's hard to say right now what is taking place."
ESPN.com's Chris Sheridan and Chris Broussard recently reported that the owners are hoping for significant rollbacks in existing contracts, a hard salary cap and a larger share of basketball-related income. Union director Billy Hunter previously has said that the players are willing to give up their 57% guarantee, but he wants to keep most other elements of the existing deal. But the owners have taken a hard-line stance on that issue. The ESPN.com report indicates that the owners are seeking a reduction of nearly $800 million in salaries for the 2011-12 season from the $2.1 billion players made in total salaries as a way to offset the league's contention that they're projecting a $300-million loss, a number the union has disputed.
"I think both sides want to get a deal done," Fisher said. But we're going to be careful how we proceed at these matters. As much as NBA speaks about the future of the game and trying to protect the game itself, that’s a priority of ours. I wish I could give you a clear picture of how it plays out. Our goal is to get a deal done and not rush through it."
Other highlights of Fisher's interview:
-- His sentiments regarding Phil Jackson
-- His endorsement of Brian Shaw as the next Lakers' coach
-- His insistence that he's not retiring after this season.
-- Mark Medina
E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com.
Photo: Lakers guard Derek Fisher reflects on the season as he answers reporter's questions about the Lakers season ending and his future with the team at the Laker's practice facility in El Segundo Tuesday. Credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times
are you happy now?
once again congrats to you sir! good guessing skills!
by LaLakers213
Of course I am sad I don't have anything exciting to watch for the next two months just like I'm used to for the last 3 years. Any Laker fan who got eliminated in an embarassing manner cannot be happy. As for my guessing skills I don't have that kind of skill. I just used my common sense (which I'm sure you lack)on my prediction. Any team who lose the first two games in their home court will surely not survive the grind. You can just look at the history of the NBA games played in order to predict this Mavs-Lakers series. I am an avid Lakers fan too but unlike you I am a practical fan. I can see the writing on the wall on this series.
Posted by: rafancio | May 10, 2011 at 03:52 PM
It shouldn't come as a surprise that Fish and Luke endorse Brian Shaw as the next coach. If Shaw doesn't become the next coach that means the Triangle is not coming back and both Fish and Walton will probably be out of a job.
Except for perhaps Kobe, I doubt if any other Lakers will be sad to see Jackson and his crappy Triangle ride off into the trash heap of basketball history.
NO MORE TRIANGLE! JUST SAY NO TO BRIAN SHAW!
Posted by: Psycorp | May 10, 2011 at 04:03 PM
Derek Fisher will most likely come off the bench for the rest of his career starting next season. He would be an upgrade over Steve Blake, that's for sure.
Some interesting and available PG/combo Gs:
Jamaal Crawford - Scoring machine, not known for his D
JJ Barea - He loves playing in Staples
Aaron Aflalo - Could be pricey
JR Smith - He and Artest could head the all nutso team
TJ Ford - Uhm....no
Sasha Vujacic - Yes please.
Earl Boykins - Always plays his #%$ off when he sees purple and gold
Leandro Barbosa - Adresses the quickness but for all his speed he's never defended well
Earl Watson - Not bad but won't get us any farther in the playoffs then we just got
Not a lot out there in terms of a serious upgrade to the PG position...next year. If, however, there is a lock out here's a link to a pretty interesting list:
http://basketball.realgm.com/src_freeagents/2012/
Posted by: Jamie Sweet | May 10, 2011 at 04:13 PM
Ouchhhhh = Multiple Handle
You should be ostracized in this blog for committing various violation of the LA Times Lakers Blog legal spiel namely:
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* "flames" any individual or entity (e.g., sends repeated messages related to another user and/or makes derogatory or offensive comments about another individual), or repeats prior posting of the same message under multiple threads or subjects.
Here is your multiple violations in using different handles:
* If you become a Registered Member of latimes.com, you accept responsibility for all activities that occur under your Registration Account. You agree to provide true, accurate, complete, and correct information at the time of registration, and to promptly update this information as needed so that it remains true, accurate, complete, and correct.
All of these are taken from the legal spiel you have agreed with, in posting in this blog.
In as much as we are now in off-season, I moved to all responsible posters and quality bloggers here to refrain from corresponding with Ouchhhh and his multiple handles. I am submitting a formal letter to LATimes Sports Dept. to protest your existence in this blog.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | May 10, 2011 at 04:14 PM
With all the references to bringing back Sasha, I have to ask if everyone is getting their peyote from Phil or what?
Posted by: scottyp | May 10, 2011 at 04:28 PM
@ Jamie Sweet: Unless the Lakers promote Brian Shaw and keep the triangle, there is no way Fish can beat out Blake. Derek will be 3rd PG behind Blake and the Lakers new starting PG in a traditional offense.
Don't know where you got your list of FA PGs but I found some notable:
Earl Watson, Aaron Brooks, Anthony Carter, Marcus Banks, Sebastian Telflair, Mario Chalmers, T.J. Ford... who are either FA or restricted FA and they are all upgrade over Blake/Fisher.
Here is the link: http://basketball.realgm.com/src_freeagents/2011/
Posted by: Psycorp | May 10, 2011 at 04:37 PM
Jamie --
Nice piece on Wonder Boy Walton. I agree, Sasha should be brought back, on the cheap. I also like Aflalo, he can defend. The Lakers should also look at JR Smith, a great 3-point shooter, but a head case. Adleman could take care of him, he's handled Artest twice, in Sac and Houston. Jamal Crawfors is a scoring machine and I like him a lot. Knicks should've never let him go.
I also would like for the Lakers to consider Jason Richardson, a great 3-point shooter (killed us when he was with the Suns) and he hasn't been a good fit in Orlando. I also like JJ Riddick in Orlando. I would pull off a deal (not including any Laker core player) to get these two guys in L.A. Give them anyone but Andrew, Gasol, Kobe, Artest, Odom, and Fisher.
Add Richardson and Riddick, that's all you need to do -- DO NOT BLOW UP THE CORE!!!
Posted by: Ludwig | May 10, 2011 at 04:41 PM
Add to my list above are also: Rafer Alston and Rodney Stuckey. Again they are also upgrade over Fish/Blake.
Posted by: Psycorp | May 10, 2011 at 04:44 PM
Love you Derek Fisher!!!
Love all that you've done for this franchise over the years!
But for your GREATNESS in game 3 against Boston last year, the Lakers never even come back to L.A. for game 7!
The list is endless... Games 4 and 5 against Orlando... I could go on and on... .04... even during the first Kobe/Shaq Dynasty, you hit huge shots against all comers!
Love you for all the class you've exhibit on and off the court (I even loved the Scola slam!).
God bless the great Derek Fisher!
LOUDER: God bless the Great FisherKing!
One day, I hope to see the Great Derek Fisher as the Head Coach of the greatest sports franchise in human history, the Los Angeles Lakers!!!
Posted by: Ludwig | May 10, 2011 at 04:47 PM
Aaron Brooks would be my choice at PG if anything to play solid D... JJ Riddick could be the shooter...
All in all... the Lakers miss Farmar's aggressiveness and durability. They could have kept Ariza and made Artest less of an offer or making space for him by trading Sasha...
Hindsight... Farmar PG, Sasha SG, Ariza SF, Lamar PF, and anyone that can rebound... now we can see how much better the team was 2 yrs ago...
I would go as far as to say... in 2008, if they had Bynum and Ariza healthy... they would have had a 3-peat last yr...
Posted by: stucktrader | May 10, 2011 at 05:45 PM
Team needs to get younger and more athletic at that position. JJ Berea looked like the second coming of Magic Johnson.Lakers need to take a look at him..I Love dfish, but the time has come for him to be part of the second unit. Steve Blake? I dont know about him. He looked great when he played against the Lakers, but just OKAY with them. They can do better. i think they missed Sasha and I would love to see him come back. Jason Richardson, JJ Reddick, Rafer Alston...think I will pass...Aaron Brooks, TJ Ford..YES!!
Posted by: gmoney | May 10, 2011 at 05:57 PM
@Psycorp
I know we're all quick to point the blame at everyone in a bad lost like this but let's not forget what Phil and the Triangle had brought LA.
Ten years of those crappy triangles got us 7 trips to the final and 5 Trophies. Beside the Spur, no other teams during that decade even come close to that level of accomplishment.
Posted by: buubuu | May 10, 2011 at 06:43 PM
Fisher has lost a step, but he's still my favorite Laker. He's got soul.
Posted by: Emerald Laughter | May 11, 2011 at 09:56 AM
Derek Fisher is not who he used to be. He used to make us smile. Now he just makes us.
Hopefully this all turns into the hope.
Posted by: Lakers Posters | May 12, 2011 at 02:01 PM