Derek Fisher agrees to 1-year deal with Oklahoma City

May 15, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Derek Fisher (6) attempts a 3 point shot against the Memphis Grizzlies during the second half in game five of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Grizzlies defeated the Thunder 88-84. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

After all these years, Derek Fisher is still getting paid to play basketball in the NBA. Ken Berger of CBS (among others) is reporting that Fisher has agreed to a 1-year, $1.4 million contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder (see below).

Fisher and the Thunder are finalizing an agreement on a one-year, $1.4M deal, source says. The Oklahoman also reported the deal is close.
— Ken Berger (@KBergNBA) July 24, 2013

News of Fisher remaining with OKC isn’t surprising for the location, but rather for the fact that he is still playing in the league at all. In 2012-2013, the 38-year-old point guard didn’t exactly inspire positive response to his on-court play, as he produced a PER of just 7.69 (league average is 15) with a disastrous 34.2% field goal percentage in 33 regular-season games.

Unfortunately, this isn’t a new trend for Fisher. He hasn’t produced even a double-digit PER in the last five seasons, and has noticeably slipped physically on both ends. However, Oklahoma City clearly is investing in his off-court “leadership”, and they are a franchise with a history of this, most recently with their inexplicable avoidance of the amnesty provision surrounding Kendrick Perkins.

It is highly unlikely that Fisher will have a positive on-court effect on the title-contending Thunder this year, but $1.4 million is apparently the going rate for locker room leadership.

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