OKLAHOMA CITY — Thunder veteran point guard Derek Fisher spent more than 35 nights in Manhattan during the NBA lockout as president of the Players Association and a chief negotiator.
At times, he felt as if he almost lived there. Fisher could get that opportunity this summer as he will be a free agent and the Knicks are looking for a low-cost veteran point guard to join Jeremy Lin and serve as tutor. They could do a lot worse than Fisher, who seeks his sixth ring.
If the union doesn’t win its Lin arbitration case to restore his Bird rights, the Knicks will only have their $2 million lower exception and $1.4 million veteran’s minimum. With that amount to spend, it could lead them to Fisher, a boon since signing with the Thunder in March to back up Russell Westbrook.
The Thunder probably won’t re-sign Fisher because their young backup, Eric Maynor, will return from knee surgery. People close to Fisher say he loves the Big Apple.
Put on the spot on the eve of tonight’s Finals on whether he’d be interested in the Knicks, Fisher, 37, said he definitely won’t retire but played the diplomat in not revealing his wish list. Fisher also spent a lot of time in New York in recent years because his daughter, fighting a rare illness, had doctors there.
“I’ve always tried my best as I approach free agent summers to not really think a lot about it until I’m there, especially at this point when so much is at stake,’’ said Fisher, averaging 21 minutes during the playoffs. “I can’t accurately answer that question. I don’t know where I’ll be emotionally after this series is over. But my plan is for sure to play after this season. I’m not going to retire after this year. I feel great physically and definitely looking forward to playing after these two weeks.’’
Fisher admitted he spoke to Heat president Pat Riley when he was bought out by the Rockets after the Lakers traded him. Riley decided against making Fisher an offer, but that also could change this summer.
“Pat’s a straight shooter,’’ Fisher said. “He let us know at that time he was looking for a big guy and was happy with the play of [Mario] Chalmers and Norris Cole.’’
Has Fisher succeeded in his role with the Thunder?
“I definitely thought I could add things to get them to this point,” he said, “and here we are.’’