NBA Rumors: Los Angeles Lakers a player for Derek Fisher?

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Derek Fisher is in the middle of playing the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals and rather than focusing on the 2-0 deficit Fisher’s Thunder are facing, all of the speculation surrounding him involves him potentially becoming the next head coach of the New York Knicks.

Although Knicks’ president Phil Jackson reportedly prefers current Denver Nuggets’ head coach Brian Shaw to Fisher, Fisher is still a potential candidate for the job.

Of course, Fisher could decide to return to the Thunder for one more season as a player and assistant coach.

Marc Berman of The New York Post reports the Los Angeles Lakers, who are also looking for a new head coach, could be a player for Fisher as a coach or in their front office.

"The Lakers could be competitors for Fisher, possibly even in a front-office position. Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said Wednesday he hopes to hire a coach who can get the best out of Bryant. Fisher and Bryant are very close.Fisher said this week he hasn’t changed his mind about retirement, but word out of Oklahoma City is the organization would love to have him back as a player/assistant coach next season."

Fisher and the Thunder will host the Spurs in game 3 of the Western Conference Finals on Sunday night at 8:30 pm EST.