From Deseret News archives:
Guard sent to Utah as Warriors' deal is officially announced
"What he said to Kevin," said Jazz owner Larry H. Miller, "was, 'I don't have anything against you guys. I was pretty sure I was going someplace else.' He didn't say where, but he said, 'I had my heart set on a couple of places.' "
"That was kind of what he was feeling," Miller said. "It just took the wind out of his sails. So we were hoping when he had time to digest it that he would come around and be OK, and once he gets here, he should be OK."
The trade for Fisher, with the Jazz sending guards Devin Brown, Keith McLeod and Andre Owens to the Warriors, was made official Wednesday afternoon.
But Miller said the Jazz were still a little nervous about it until just before their afternoon press conferences to announce the re-signing of Matt Harpring and the Fisher trade.
As Miller was heading to the press conference, assistant athletic trainer Brian Zettler, who also handles team equipment, told him that he had called Fisher earlier in the day.
"Nobody prompted him," Miller said of Zettler, "but we can't get an answer from Fisher, so he calls him this morning and says, 'Two things: What jersey number do you want and what shoe size do you wear?' And Derek told him, 'I like No. 2 and I wear (13 or 13 1/2).' "
That indicated to the Jazz that Fisher, 32, had gotten comfortable with the idea.
He has 10 days to report to Utah for his physical.
With Harpring their most-experienced other returning player, Fisher's strong character and 10 years in the NBA are expected to help a team with an otherwise young backcourt. He has played 700 career games in eight years with the Los Angeles Lakers and his time with the Warriors, averaging 8.6 points, 3.2 assists and 2.2 rebounds in 25.3 minutes.
"He will help us, especially in close games," said O'Connor about the guard who has been known for hitting clutch baskets and another 3-point shooter. O'Connor also said that in researching Fisher's character, he got nothing but "rave reviews. His presence on the floor and in our locker room will be a tremendous asset."
"And it's not over-the-hill leadership," added Miller, who likes Fisher for some additional reasons: He plays both guard spots, is left-handed "and he will not be shooting against us any more."
Fisher is coming off his best season, playing 82 games averaging career-bests of 13.3 points and 1.52 steals with 4.3 assists and 2.2 rebounds in 31.6 minutes a game.
