Derek Fisher: The missing piece to Thunder’s playoff puzzle?
Five-time NBA champion Derek Fisher signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday in the hopes of adding a sixth ring to his collection.
The thirty-seven year old guard who played for the Los Angeles Lakers in thirteen of his sixteen seasons as a pro, was dealt to the Houston Rockets on last weeks trade deadline in exchange for Jordan Hill.
Following negotiations with the Rockets management, Fisher bought out his contract and has now formally signed a one-year, $1 million contract with a player option for next year worth $3.4 million.
The veteran was signed as a backup to Russell Westbrook following a season-ending knee injury in January to normal back-up point guard, Eric Maynor. Jumping straight into the rotation, D-Fish made his debut on Wednesday night wearing the number 37 as a message to the Lakers.
“Especially this season, it seemed to be a negative thing that I was 37,” Said Fisher after Oklahoma’s 114-91 win over the LA Clippers. “So I just wanted to send a message that the Thunder organization and I see it as a positive that I’m a guy that can help a team be successful and compete for a championship at the age of 37.”
Scoring five points in nineteen minutes of play in the Thunder win, Fisher and the team sit atop of the Western Conference standings with only Miami and Chicago currently holding better records in the league.
As playoff time gets ever closer the veteran leadership of Fisher is bound to be a great addition to a youthful side lacking championship experience. After playing in 209 playoff games in thirteen trips to the postseason, Derek Fisher knows how to win.
“He has winner all over his DNA,” Said Oklahoma head coach Scott Brooks. “ You can never have enough winners in your locker room and we have a locker room full of them. He just gives us one more winner.”
The Lakers decided to trade Fisher following the addition of Ramon Sessions on the trade deadline and many believe this deal could help the purple and gold pip the San Antonio Spurs into second in the West.
With the Thunder looking to wrap up the top spot, predictions of a Thunder vs. Lakers Conference Finals are now beginning to gain steam. With the addition of D-Fish, who if you didn’t forget knows the Lakers inside out, Oklahoma may just have added the final piece to the playoff puzzle.
“It’s very clear that there’s one common goal,” Fisher said. “And that’s to maximise the abilities of every player on the team and try and bring, at some point, a championship to Oklahoma City.”
