The Oklahoma City Thunder owns the NBA’s third best record in the league. On Wednesday, they added a veteran guard to their roster in hopes he would help bring a title to the team. Derek Fisher was traded last week to the Houston Rockets from the Los Angeles Lakers after playing 14 plus season with the Lakers. Houston subsequently released him when he said he would not report to the team.
On Wednesday, after clearing waivers, he signed with the Thunder for the remainder of this season. Last night he was on the bench in uniform, for the Thunder’s game against the Clippers. Fisher said he was looking for a type of player and coaching staff to play with. He also wanted a particular atmosphere to join and said it felt right when he came to visit the Thunder.
In January, the Thunder lost their backup point guard Eric Maynor to an injury. Fisher brings experience to the Thunder. He has won five NBA titles from his days with the Lakers, but what he brings to the team is deeper than that. He is considered a calming and positive influence in the locker room. For a young team like the Thunder, that could pay big dividends. The Lakers as a whole were unhappy when management traded Fisher, saying he was an excellent buffer between all star Kobe Bryant and his teammates.
