OKC Thunder rebound Derek Fisher just in time

Fisher, who was traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Houston Rockets and then released, arrived in Oklahoma to sign for the rest of the season with the Thunder. Wednesday night, he was in uniform wearing No. 37 — same as his age — vs. the Los Angeles Clippers.

"There were specific things I was looking for, the type of players, coaches, atmosphere and everything fit here with what I wanted to be a part of," Fisher said. "When you can be a part of something special you have to do it."

The Thunder lost backup Eric Maynor to a season-ending right knee injury Jan. 7. Though Maynor averaged 4.2 points a game, he had given them a steady ball-handler. Fisher averaged 5.9 points — the lowest since his second season in 1997-98 — with the Lakers. He never played for the Rockets.

He won five NBA championships with the Lakers, but Fisher's value goes deeper than numbers. The president of the players' union, he's considered a positive locker room presence which could pay dividends with a young team such as Oklahoma City.

After Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak traded him, he lamented the loss of Fisher, who could be a buffer between Kobe Bryant's periodic abrasiveness with teammates.

Hickson to Portland: In another move, the Portland Trail Blazers acquired forward J.J. Hickson off waivers. Hickson was bought out by the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday. To make room, the Blazers waived 6-11 center Mehmet Okur, who they acquired in a trade with the New Jersey Nets last week. Okur has played in only 17 games.

Article courtesy of http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball

Image courtesy of Alex T Design