Derek Fisher will be back at The Peake next season.

I suspect he’ll be wearing a very dapper suit.

Yes, as expected for the past few days, Fisher has accepted the head coaching job with the New York Knicks. Reports out of the Big Apple say the details are still being finalized but that a five-year, $25 million deal is expected.

The Knicks finally have a coach, but now, the Thunder needs a third-string point guard.

And a veteran locker room presence.

And a coach-in-the-making type.

Fisher, after all, was way more than the third-string point guard during his nearly three seasons in Oklahoma City. He became a steadying force for the Thunder, a player who had the respect of every guy in the locker room, a veteran who knew what it took to win a title and shared that knowledge in a way that didn’t offend anyone.

“People don’t see what he does behind the scenes,” Thunder veteran Nick Collison said, “but the guy, he’s incredible.”

As the big man talked during his exit interview two weekends ago, it was clear that Collison, an impressive locker room presence in his own right, was in awe of Fisher these past few years.

“Different from any teammate I’ve had,” Collison said. “The way he can address the team. Almost like a coach, but guys don’t roll their eyes at him like, ‘Who is this guy?’ He feels like one of us, but at the same time, he has these abilities that are different than anybody in terms of leadership.”

And now, the Thunder must fill the void that Fisher leaves on its roster.

So, who might be his replacement?

There’s no one quite like him in the league, of course, but ever since the Thunder has been in Oklahoma City, it has always had that veteran presence, that locker room champion.

Desmond Mason.

Kevin Ollie.

Nazr Mohammed.

Royal Ivey.

Mason was as close as any of them came to being a star, but really, each of those players was brought in by the Thunder to do more than play. They were brought in to lead and nurture and assist.

Not coincidentally, I suspect, most of these Fisher types even lockered in the same area. They were on the Durant-Westbrook-Ibaka side of the locker room.

So, now that Fisher is taking his talents to Manhattan Beach, it’s safe to assume the Thunder is on the lookout for someone to take over that role. A veteran. A leader. A winner. And oh, someone with a cheap price tag.

Fisher made $1.3 million this past season.

The Thunder might be willing to go above that number for Fisher’s replacement, but a deal in that ballpark likely removes someone like Trevor Ariza from consideration. Ditto for Shawn Marion. Both are free agents, but both made north of $7.5 million this season. Even if one of them was willing to take a paycut, a reduction that’s big enough to work with the Thunder’s salary structure seems unlikely.[/qguar
There is a second page that I wasn't able to copy about potential vet leaders that could be brought in.
http://newsok.com/thunder-loses-more-than-a-third-string-point-guard-in-derek-fisher/article/4894085?custom_click=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Newsok%2FSports%2FThunder+%28NewsOK.com+RSS+-+sports+%3E%3E+thunder%29

I feel better about this hire even more than I did MDA. Not just cuz of who I think Fish is as a man, but his pairing with Phil is a more natural fit than when MDA came here under Walsh and then Grunwald. This is a stronger team IMO. Also I think he'll fit the kind of roster we'll be likely to have. Under MDA I we were always in need of that PG to make it all work. Fish won't really be so dependent on a single position. Lastly I think Fish will be INFINITELY better at relating to his players. MDA wasn't much of a communicator and you really needed a strong on court leader who was in MDA's corner like Nash was. I think Fish will be able to relate to today's players MUCH better.

Nalod wrote:Kerr vs Fish is an interesting discussion and one we'll never know the answer to. Warriors roster is not as "clumsy" and the team has had some success at this point. He was Phil's first choice but maybe timing is everything.

I think more that this is a "Cornerstone" potential hire. Its not what FIsh is but what he can become.

How long until Kobe wants in?

tkf wrote:

nixluva wrote:It's for these reasons that I think we got lucky with Kerr not taking the job. I just feel like Fisher has been already getting on the job training so to speak. He has been using his experience and communication skills on a smaller level already and should be able to take that step up a bit better. I think he's been in the mix of modern BB more than Kerr too. Even tho Kerr has been watching it, I think Fish has been more deeply engrossed in thinking it and has a keen sense of the strengths and weaknesses of current players and closer relationships with current players.

I feel better about this hire even more than I did MDA. Not just cuz of who I think Fish is as a man, but his pairing with Phil is a more natural fit than when MDA came here under Walsh and then Grunwald. This is a stronger team IMO. Also I think he'll fit the kind of roster we'll be likely to have. Under MDA I we were always in need of that PG to make it all work. Fish won't really be so dependent on a single position. Lastly I think Fish will be INFINITELY better at relating to his players. MDA wasn't much of a communicator and you really needed a strong on court leader who was in MDA's corner like Nash was. I think Fish will be able to relate to today's players MUCH better.

I have a feeling you would have posted the same thing regardless who we hired... we didn't get lucky not getting kerr.. we got played by kerr.. admit that...

Fish won't really be so dependent on a single position. Lastly I think Fish will be INFINITELY better at relating to his players. MDA wasn't much of a communicator and you really needed a strong on court leader who was in MDA's corner like Nash was. I think Fish will be able to relate to today's players MUCH better.

come on..Dantoni won 60 games twice I think with the suns.. I don't think he had a communication problem at all.. especially when you have players with iq'S HIGHER THAN 10