Derek Fisher wasn't cherished enough by Lakers management to be held on to at the NBA trade deadline, getting dumped to the Houston Rockets with a first-round draft pick in a payroll-saving move.
But Fisher did get one more moment in the Staples Center sun Thursday night, when the Lakers played a tribute video expressing thanks to Fisher for his contributions over the years. Fisher was back to face the Lakers after landing with the Oklahoma City Thunder as a backup as he tries to win his sixth NBA championship.
Fisher didn't watch the whole video because he was gearing up for the game with some new teammates, but he did salute the crowd at the end of it. He received another partial standing ovation when he entered the game -- and he didn't stop there: Fisher uncharacteristically scored seven points in seven minutes, making 3-of-5 shots from the field, to cut into the Lakers' early lead.
The Thunder dominated the second half and beat the Lakers, 102-93.
Before the game, Fisher had told reporters he could've been able to deal with a lesser role with the Lakers, who acquired point guard Ramon Sessions in a separate trade on deadline day.
"It goes against and flies in the face of, not only of who I've been in the NBA, but the type of player I've been in every group that I've been a part of," Fisher said of not being a team player. "I was raised on team sports, and that always stood for sharing and sacrifice and giving of yourself so the group can succeed. So that's what I'm explicitly focused on doing for the Thunder now."
The Lakers move on to play the New Orleans Hornets on Saturday afternoon at Staples Center, but their home record has dropped to 20-5.
NOTES, QUOTES
Gasol avoids injury from Perkins' foul-drawing elbow
--Pau Gasol has been said to be soft on the court, but it was a good thing he was quick Thursday night. After he fouled Thunder center Kendrick Perkins in the first quarter, Perkins threw an elbow back toward Gasol's face -- which just missed contact when Gasol pulled back. Referee Danny Crawford called Perkins for a technical foul.
--Lakers legend Magic Johnson heard about Kobe Bryant jokingly saying he wished Johnson had cut him in for the new deal to buy the Dodgers baseball team. Johnson fired off the following note via Twitter: "To the future HOF Kobe Bryant: you can invest with me anytime."
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I just didn't think that was the right time or moment after one pass." -- Lakers coach Mike Brown, on the three-point shot Andrew Bynum took that got him benched.
ROSTER REPORT
PLAYER NOTES:
--F Jordan Hill wasn't in uniform for the Lakers on Thursday night because of a sprained MCL in his right knee, a similar injury to the one that bothered him before he was traded by Houston to the Lakers in the Derek Fisher trade. Fisher did suit up Thursday night at Staples Center after buying out his contract with the Rockets and signing with Oklahoma City.
--G Ramon Sessions told Yahoo! Sports he is excited to be in the limelight provided by the Lakers' brand after playing in smaller markets such as Milwaukee and Cleveland. Said Sessions: "The people in those cities really knew who you are. But now I got people around the world that know who I am now."
--F Josh McRoberts has steadily been taking playing time away from fellow power forward Troy Murphy, whose three-point shooting is less necessary with the Lakers getting points more easily since the acquisition of point guard Ramon Sessions. Murphy got a golden opportunity Thursday night after Pau Gasol got into foul trouble, but Murphy did very little with his minutes just after halftime.
