There were plenty of trade rumors concerning the Lakers prior to Thursday’s deadline, but very few, if any of them, involved Derek Fisher. That’s why it was so shocking to hear the Lakers had dealt their team leader to Houston. Even former Laker Lamar Odom, who was stunningly traded to Dallas before the season, was surprised.
“I’m a little bit surprised, but you never know,” Odom told the Fort Worth Star Telegram. “It’s a business. You never know.
“That’s the way it goes. Business is business, as injuries are. You still have a job to do,” Odom said.
You would think of all people Lamar Odom would be the least surprised by the trade since it happened to him, but that just shows how unexpected the deal was.
The Rockets said they will buy out Fisher’s deal making him available to other teams. Someone will pick him up, but not the Lakers — they can’t get him back until next July. Fisher doesn’t offer a ton to teams, but he is good in the locker room and he can still make a big shot in the clutch.