No way Warriors will cut Fisher
THE DOOR HAS swung open for Chris Mullin to admit his mistake and release Derek Fisher under the league's new "amnesty" program.
It's not going to happen. Nor should it.
The NBA is giving each of its teams until Aug.15 to rid itself of its worst contract. The Trail Blazers were the first to take advantage, dumping Derek Anderson and the $18.8 million he's owed over the next two seasons.
Anderson will still get his money from Portland owner Paul Allen, and the Trail Blazers still will be charged $9.1 million against the salary cap next season and $9.7 million in 2006-07. The savings come in luxury-tax relief — the dollar-for-dollar penalty assessed to teams whose total player salaries exceed the league's predetermined limit.
Next season, for example, the number to stay below is $61.7 million.
The Trail Blazers, like the Warriors, are not currently over the luxury-tax limit. But each is close enough so that signing a free agent could push it over the top.
Releasing Fisher and the $31.9 million he's due over the next five seasons would allow the Warriors to sign a significant free agent this summer. So the question becomes: Is there one out there that warrants throwing away that kind of money? The answer is no.
First off, understand if the Warriors were to lose Fisher, they'd be sacrificing not only their best catch-and-shoot perimeter marksman but also their chief insurance policy should Baron Davis get hurt.
Without question, Mullin immediately would have to replace Fisher with ... well, another Fisher. Preferably an upgraded model.
The only player who's close to qualifying among the available free agents is Memphis guard Earl Watson, a very popular commodity on the market right now.
It would cost the Warriors about $29 million to get the former UCLA standout, which in essence would be $60 million when you factor in the amount owed Fisher.
Watson isn't worth that kind of money. Neither is Gary Payton, Latrell Sprewell or Nick Van Exel — other big-name free agents.
Shaquille O'Neal wants Fisher in Miami. Phil Jackson needs him back in Los Angeles.
Sorry, guys. This isn't the "charity"
Sieht so aus, als ob die Entscheidung gefallen ist, dass sobald adäquater Ersatz zur Verfügung steht, Derrick Fisher gewaived wird. Die Tatsache, dass es im Falle dessen noch eines PGs bedarf, ist klar. Die Frage ist nur, wen man verpflichten könnte, der D-Fishs Rolle ausfüllt, ohne viel Geld zu kosten. Monta Ellis dürfte noch ein bischen zu grün sein.
Ein günstiger Kandidat dürfte Dan Dickau sein, der gezeigt hat, dass er eine Offense führen kann, über einen brauchbaren Distanzschuss verfügt und als FA zu haben ist.
Jason Hart wäre auch einer gewesen, hat aber leider bei den Kings unterschrieben.