Fisher nearing deal with Thunder

[Rudi]

The ultra-reliable Marc Stein of ESPN.com has the report:

Derek Fisher is in advanced negotiations with the Oklahoma City Thunder to sign with the Western Conference leaders after clearing waivers, according to sources close to the situation.

Fisher is scheduled to clear waivers Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. ET. One source with knowledge of the talks told ESPN.com that Fisher is “very close” to committing to sign with the Thunder once he becomes a free agent.

ESPN.com reported Tuesday that the Thunder and Miami Heat had emerged as the two frontrunners to sign Fisher, who was officially released Monday night by the Houston Rockets after securing a buyout from Houston in the wake of last week’s trade that brought an end to Fisher’s second stint with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Fisher would fill a need for the Thunder, who have been searching for a solution at the backup point guard spot ever since Eric Maynor went down for the season with a torn ACL injury — rookie point guard Reggie Jackson has struggled badly for the Thunder, and is currently averaging just 3.5 points per game on 33.8% shooting from the field and 22.4% shooting from downtown.

The Heat have less of a pressing need at the backup point guard spot, as rookie Norris Cole has played very well in stretches, but the Cleveland State product has struggled lately, and may be hitting the dreaded “rookie wall.”

Fisher, who has won five NBA championships as a member of the Lakers, will provide a good locker-room presence, be a good, physical defender, and stretch the floor for any team that signs him, even though his individual statistics have never been particularly good and he lacks anything resembling speed at this point in his career.

Fisher is rightly renowned for his clutch-shot making, but with Mario Chalmers (who nearly saved the Heat’s Finals by tying game 2 with a 3 on Miami’s final possession of that fateful game) and Russell Westbrook firmly embedded as the starting point guard for both the Heat and the Thunder, it seems unlikely that Fisher will be on the floor during crunch-time if he signs with either team. Still, the allure of a 5-time champion is hard to resist, and the front-runners in both the East and the West both seem to want Fisher on their roster very badly as they search for the final piece of their respective championship puzzles.

 

[EmpireWF]

Seems like a good fit, off the bench behind Westbrook.

 

[ralaw]

Since Maynor went down they've really need a backup PG.....Fisher should fit.

 

[Primetime]

Great fit with Maynor done for the year. Would be amazing if Fisher and the Thunder took out the Lakers in the playoffs.

 

[Juggernaut]

Done deal.

Really would love to see a Thunder-Lakers matchup now.