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Derek Fisher Eligible To Re-Sign With Lakers

October 16th, 2012 at 8:06am CST by Luke Adams

Last week, in a story about players who are ineligible to return to their old teams after being traded and waived, I looked extensively at Derek Fisher's eligibility to return to the Lakers. Because waived players can rejoin their old teams either a year after being traded or at the end of their contract (whichever comes first), Fisher's 2012/13 player option created some confusion. He was believed to have exercised the option before being bought out by the Rockets, meaning his contract wouldn't officially end until June 30th, 2013 and he wouldn't be able to re-sign with the Lakers until March 15th, 2013, the one-year anniversary of last March's trade.

However, according to ESPN.com's Marc Stein, the league office has verified that Fisher can, in fact, return to the Lakers now. Sources tell Stein that Fisher was bought out by Houston before he exercised his option for 2012/13. As such, his contract is considered to have ended on June 30th of this year, making him eligible to re-sign with the Lakers from July 1st on.

We've heard so many conflicting stories about Fisher's eligibility at this point that it's hard to be 100% sure that Stein's account is accurate until we see the veteran point guard actually wearing a Lakers uniform. And of course, even if Fisher can re-sign with the team, there's no guarantee he will. At the moment, the Lakers still have an excess of point guards, which is why the club is reportedly shopping Chris Duhon and Steve Blake.

According to Stein, Fisher could very well jump at the next palatable offer he receives from one of the league's other 29 teams, but there's still some level of interest from both Fisher and the Lakers in a reunion.

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Free Agents Ineligible To Sign With Specific Teams

October 12th, 2012 at 2:06pm CST by Luke Adams

Among the myriad rules in the NBA's collective bargaining agreement is a stipulation that says teams that trade players can't claim those players off waivers or re-sign them until the earlier of the following two dates:

  • One year after the trade was completed.
  • July 1st after the player's contract ends.

In some cases, this rule is simple to apply to practical cases. For instance, the Nets traded Mehmet Okur's expiring contract to Portland last March at the trade deadline, and the Blazers waived Okur shortly thereafter. Because Okur's deal was set to expire at season's end, he was ineligible to re-sign with the Nets during last season, but regained that ability as of July 1st, when his contract expired.

Other cases are trickier, however. For example, Derek Fisher was traded to the Rockets by the Lakers last March 15th, and was bought out by the Rockets shortly thereafter. Fisher had a player option on his contract for 2012/13, which raises the question: When exactly is his contract considered to be "over"? In his CBA FAQ, salary cap expert Larry Coon provides an answer:

  • For contracts with options or ETOs, the end date of the contract is interpreted as the June 30th before an option year, and the June 30th after an ETO year.

Fisher's option wasn't an ETO, so the June 30th before his option year should be considered the "end" of his contract, making him eligible to sign with the Lakers beginning in July, right? Well, not quite.

As confirmed by Coon, Fisher's player option for 2012/13 actually was exercised when he worked out his buyout with the Rockets, allowing the team to split his buyout amount in half between the 2011/12 and '12/13 seasons. That means Fisher is still on the Rockets' books for this season, and his contract isn't considered to be over until next June 30th. As such, the earliest date he can re-sign with the Lakers is March 15th, 2013, a year after the trade.

Since players acquired in trades generally aren't waived immediately, this situation doesn't arise all that often. And many of the players who found themselves in such a position have since signed with other teams — for instance, Josh Harrellson was ineligible to rejoin the Knicks after being waived by the Rockets, but ended up signing with the Heat.

By my count, the eight players listed below, plus Fisher, comprise the group of NBA free agents who are currently ineligible to sign with a specific team, but feel free to contact us if there are any I've missed.

Note: Players who were waived via the amnesty clause are also ineligible to re-sign with their old teams until the amnestied contract expires.

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Steve Blake, Chris Duhon Available Via Trade

October 12th, 2012 at 8:30am CST by Luke Adams

The Lakers have "made it clear to the rest of the league" that Steve Blake or Chris Duhon are on the trading block and could be had in a deal, according to ESPN.com's Marc Stein. No trades involving either player are imminent, but Stein wonders if the duo could draw more interest down the road when injuries begin to pile up around the league and outlooks aren't so "rosy."

Blake, 32, has suffered a dip in production since joining the Lakers two seasons ago, and still has two years remaining on his contract at $4MM annually. As such, Duhon could be the more attractive trade target for any interested teams. The 30-year-old hasn't been at the top of his game in recent years either and is also under contract for two more years, but his $3.75MM salary in 2013/14 is only guaranteed for $1.5MM.

Within Stein's piece, the ESPN.com scribe adds that if the Lakers are able to move Blake or Duhon, it's possible the team could re-add Derek Fisher to its roster, assuming the veteran point guard is still on the market. Considering the Lakers are ineligible to re-sign Fisher until March 15th, 2013, the one-year anniversary of their trade that sent him to Houston, it's very possible the 38-year-old will have found work elsewhere by then.

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Latest On Unsigned Free Agents

October 11th, 2012 at 8:57am CST by Luke Adams

With Tracy McGrady having signed to play in China earlier this week, our list of 2012/13 unrestricted free agents continues to grow more and more sparse. Still, there are surprising names on there, such as Kenyon Martin, Leandro Barbosa, Mickael Pietrus, and Michael Redd. We don't have any new updates on those four, but here's the latest on a few of the other notable names on the market:

  • Derek Fisher: Kobe Bryant tells Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com (Twitter link) that he's confident his longtime teammate will find an NBA home soon, since "every team needs a guard like him." Fisher had been working out with the Lakers this fall, but can't re-sign with Los Angeles at this point, since the team traded him in March. There was speculation that the Celtics could kick the tires following Keyon Dooling's retirement, but there doesn't appear to be anything concrete there.
  • Josh Howard: While Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com tweets that Howard should be on a roster before opening night, it's a little surprising he's still out there at all. We've heard rumblings that Howard was closing in on a decision since late July, after all. I wouldn't rule out the Sixers, who were said to be eyeing Howard last month and currently appear to have camp invitees Dan Gadzuric, Damien Wilkins, and Devin Searcy fighting for the final two roster spots.
  • Chris Andersen: Within the previously-linked Zwerling tweet, the ESPNNY scribe adds that the Birdman should find a suitor by opening night as well, though it's unclear where he'll land. Andersen seems to have been willing to sign with a number of teams earlier in the offseason, but the Timberwolves, Heat, and Knicks all failed to reciprocate his interest. An August report suggesting the big man had offers of up to $5MM annually seems a little outrageous now, but perhaps there would still be modest offers available overseas.
  • Maurice Evans: Another player Zwerling expects to sign with a team this month, Evans wants to continue his playing career despite receiving interest from the Wizards in a front office capacity. Last week, we heard that teams would likely evaluate what they have in camp before moving on someone like Evans, so perhaps a club disappointed with its camp invitees will turn to the veteran wing within the next few weeks.
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Kennedy On Veterans, Cousins

October 9th, 2012 at 7:07pm CST by Sean Highkin

Earlier Tuesday, Tracy McGrady signed a deal to play in China. With that in mind, HoopsWorld's Alex Kennedy takes a look at several veteran players remaining on the market in his latest column:

  • Josh Howard, Michael Redd, and Leandro Barbosa are two wing players Kennedy points to as among the best available on the market.
  • Several veteran players, including Mickael Pietrus and Kenyon Martin, are unwilling to sign contracts at the veteran's minimum and are holding out for more money, Kennedy says.
  • Derek Fisher has been working out with the Lakers recently, but Kennedy points out that he cannot re-sign there until March, after one year has passed since he was traded to the Rockets and waived.
  • Kennedy suggests that Gilbert Arenas, who appeared in 17 games for the Grizzlies last season, may consider playing in China like McGrady if he cannot find a deal in the NBA.
  • Also in his column, Kennedy looks at the leadership role third-year center DeMarcus Cousins has been taking on with the Kings in training camp.
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Billy Hunter’s $3MM Salary Under Investigation

September 29th, 2012 at 2:52pm CST by Chuck Myron

U.S. Department of Labor filings show that player's union executive director Billy Hunter made $3MM for the 2011/12 season, a raise of $600K over the salary he made the previous year, Jeff Zillgitt of USAToday.com reports. Hunter's salary, along with the bylaws and union constitution that allow him to make that much, is part of an internal business review that is also examining charges that Hunter funneled millions of dollars to his relatives, Ken Berger of CBSSports.com hears.

The business review, conducted by a New York law firm, is going on side-by-side with a U.S. Attorney's office investigation. The examinations were prompted by a rift between Hunter and union president Derek Fisher. In April, the union's executive committee asked Fisher to resign, but he has remained in office and, with two years left on his term, has no intention of stepping down, sources tell Berger. Fisher remains unsigned as a player, though, and it's unclear how long he can continue as president if he's not with a team. Seven of the nine seats on the executive committee are up for re-election, but a vote may be postponed until the All-Star Game, Berger reports. 

Hunter makes more than union chiefs in the NFL, NHL and Major League Baseball, though at 16 years of service he has the longest tenure amongst his peers in the other sports, Zillgitt writes. The Labor Department filings revealed Hunter's daughter Robyn, a union employee, received a raise last year, while his daughter-in-law, Inaba, who also works for the union, took a paycut. The union increased payments to a pair of firms that each employs a relative of Hunter.

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Odds & Ends: Blake, Seattle, Fegan, Millsap, Uzoh

September 24th, 2012 at 5:19pm CST by Luke Adams

According to the team's official website, Lakers guard Steve Blake suffered a puncture wound after stepping on a spike strip in a parking lot. The statement says Blake will be restricted from team activities for at least three weeks. Despite not being one of the bigger names on Los Angeles' roster, Blake's role as the team's veteran backup point guard is quite important, especially considering incoming starter Steve Nash's inability to log major minutes. 

Here are a few more Monday odds and ends from around the NBA:

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Washburn On Ujiri, Fisher, Williams, Barnes

September 23rd, 2012 at 12:40pm CST by Chuck Myron

Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe caught up with Nuggets GM Masai Ujiri, who received plaudits this summer after trading for Andre Iguodala but still faces an uphill battle in a stacked Western Conference. He has more to share from around the league, and we'll hit the highlights here.

  • Washburn believes free agent point guard Derek Fisher could be a consideration for the Celtics, though we heard yesterday that A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com doesn't think the team will pursue him. Boston is thin at point guard following the retirement of Keyon Dooling.
  • Hawks GM Danny Ferry's decision to buy out Jordan Williams was curious, according to Washburn, who wonders why they didn't try to dangle him in a trade offer. The Globe scribe says at 6'10" and 260 pounds, with the ability to rebound and play center, Williams shouldn't remain a free agent for long. One report has linked Williams to the Knicks.
  • Washburn also heard from Matt Barnes, who recently signed with the Clippers, about his experience on the other team in L.A. "I think you really learn a lot about yourself, playing for the Lakers, you are on the biggest stage in the world,” the forward said. “All eyes are always on you. You’re never supposed to miss a shot and you’re never supposed to lose. You really have to control your feelings and emotions when people try to jump on you, because they expect 82-0 and they expect titles every year. It’s not a bad tradition to live up to, but you definitely find out a lot about yourself.”
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Celtics Rumors: Fisher, Bibby, Barbosa, Pietrus

September 22nd, 2012 at 4:14pm CST by Chuck Myron

Keyon Dooling's retirement reduced the number of fully guaranteed contracts on the Celtics roster to 13. Though Dionte Christmas and Jamar Smith have small partial guarantees of $237K and $25K, respectively, the team appears to have the flexibility to add another free agent. They still possess their $1.957MM biannual exception, and with Dooling retired and Avery Bradley recovering from right shoulder surgery, they could be in the market for an experienced backup to point guard Rajon Rondo. In the meantime Jason Terry will serve in that capacity, according to A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com, who believes the former Mav will make the greatest contribution of all the new Celtics this year (Twitter links). Blakely unleashed a series of tweets full of notable Celtics rumors, and we've rounded them up here:

  • While Dooling will be missed, Blakely doesn't think the team will go after Derek Fisher or Mike Bibby to replace him (Twitter links).
  • Leandro Barbosa and Mickael Pietrus aren't likely to join the Celtics either, Blakely says (Twitter links). Barbosa has indicated a willingness to sign for the minimum with a contender, while Pietrus expressed an interest in returning to Boston, but for the biannual exception instead of the minimum.
  • Darko Milicic, who signed a guaranteed one-year minimum deal, is a worthwhile gamble given his low price, Blakely thinks (Twitter link).
  • The last we heard on Bradley's recovery was that it might keep him out until mid-December. Blakely says it's possible, although not likely, that he'll be back for the regular season opener, and believes Bradley will eventually retake the starting shooting guard job from Courtney Lee. (All Twitter links).
  • Amongst the team's rookies, Jared Sullinger figures to get the most playing time, Blakely tweets.
  • The Celtics have "a very good shot" at a championship, but it hinges on the team's health, Blakely opines (Twitter link).
  • Kenyon Martin has been linked to the Celtics recently, but he'll require more than the minimum, according to Timberwolves assistant coach Bill Bayno, who says that's why his team isn't pursuing the big man, tweets Darren Wolfson of ESPN 1500 radio. 
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Brooks: Thunder May Still Re-Sign Derek Fisher

September 20th, 2012 at 10:34am CST by Luke Adams

With training camps approaching, veteran point guard Derek Fisher remains on the free agent market, and we heard last week that the odds of him returning to the Thunder are "remote." However, Thunder coach Scott Brooks didn't rule out the possibility when talking to Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Times. According to Brooks, the situation is fluid and there's still a chance Oklahoma City could re-sign Fisher.

With Eric Maynor set to return from an ACL injury, the Thunder will have three point guards on the roster without Fisher — Maynor and Reggie Jackson are set to back up All-Star Russell Westbrook. Still, the Thunder only have 14 guaranteed contracts on their books, so there's room to add one more player. And it sounds as if Brooks would love to have Fisher back.

"Just being around him, I can tell why he's loved by so many people and why the Lakers won so many championships," Brooks said. "He puts everything he has into every possession, every practice and every game. In our practices, he is 37 and he did everything we asked, every drill and every possession. He practices every day. It was great. I don't think we could've gone as far as we did without him. I thought he was terrific and I love him. I really have a lot of respect for him."

Brooks added that he leaves the team's personnel decisions up to GM Sam Presti. Presti and the Thunder still have a good chunk of their mid-level exception available, but if the team were to make an offer to Fisher, I'd expect it to be for the veteran's minimum.

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