NBA Rumors: Why Derek Fisher's Return to Lakers Makes Sense on Both Sides

Derek Fisher wearing anything other than purple and gold just looks wrong.

According to the latest NBA rumors, order could be restored to the 38-year-old point guard’s wardrobe.

Marc Stein of ESPN reported that the bridge between Fisher and the Los Angeles Lakers hasn’t been burned, at least literally speaking. If LA is able to deal Steve Blake or Chris Duhon’s expiring contracts—two players who, according to Stein, are on the trade block—and D-Fish is willing to wait until March 15 of next year to sign, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be a Laker once again.

Of course, that’s the "is-it-possible" route. The "is-it-probable" route is clouded by the fact that Mitch Kupchak just traded Fisher last season.

But despite the likelihood that Fisher held animosity toward the Lakers’ front office just months ago, he already got his revenge. The team he eventually stuck with, the Oklahoma City Thunder, eliminated LA in the Western Conference Playoffs. His former teammates were also forced to watch him compete in the NBA Finals.

Now, I can’t read minds, but I highly doubt Fisher is still holding a grudge against Los Angeles after all that. And on top of that, it isn’t like he’s rivals with anyone there. This isn’t a Kobe Bryant vs. Shaquille O’Neal situation—if anything, Fisher’s relationship with Bryant only makes a return more likely.

In Stein’s report, he wrote that Kobe said of Fish this past week, “I’m pretty confident he’ll find a team. Every team needs a guard like him.”

As tight as they are, though, is their bond strong enough for Fisher to turn down offers from contenders over the next five months? Once he gets a whiff of the dominance Bryant, Dwight Howard, Steve Nash and Pau Gasol display early in the season, yeah, that bond should suffice.

That’s why a triumphant return to Hollywood should work on Fisher’s end. But how about LA’s?

Well, all you need to do is take a peek at Blake’s stat line and you’ll be all in to bring him back.

Blake averaged a pitiful 4.6 points per game and shot 30.8 percent from beyond the arc in the playoffs against the Thunder. That’s inexcusable. Fisher, on the other hand, shot 37.5 percent in the postseason proving that he’s still a more than capable crunch-time performer.

When Blake isn’t knocking down threes, he’s a liability. While Fisher isn’t much better, he’s superior in the clutch and as a leader. Signing him to be Steve Nash’s backup is a no-brainer.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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