Perfectly timed no doubt, on the eve of Derek Fisher returning to Los Angeles as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder to take on his former squad, Kobe Bryant yesterday was trying to play GM of the Lakers. Kobe told NBA.com that he missed having Derek Fisher and Lamar Odom as teammates, and will be making a hard push this summer on management to bring back Fisher and Odom through free agency.
Kobe Bryant is planning a hard push to recruit Derek Fisher and Lamar Odom back to the Lakers as free agents in the summer, a source familiar with Bryant’s thinking told NBA.com as Fisher prepares to return to Staples Center as a member of the Thunder.
Whether either would be receptive is unclear – Fisher and Odom loved their seasons in Los Angeles, but were hurt to be traded within the last 3 ½ months. It is known, however, that Bryant plans to use his close friendship with both to convince them that a reunion is in everyone’s best interest, bruised egos and all.
Odom has looked like a shadow of his former self this season in Dallas, and many have questioned his passion for the game, his conditioning, and more. Fisher on the other hand was moved specifically to help the Lakers get younger and better defensively at the point spot with Ramon Sessions. The Lakers management didn’t want to have to deal with transitioning Derek Fisher to a back-up role behind Sessions, so figured it was easier to move him.
Not seeing how any of those things have changed in the dynamic between Odom, Fisher, and the Lakers, I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for the two to return for next season.
