Derek Fisher won't be wearing a Lakers uniform anymore. (Harry E. Walker / MCT / March 15, 2012) |
The Lakers have traded the veteran point guard and a conditional draft pick to the Houston Rockets for forward Jordan Hill, a Rockets team source confirmed to The Times.
Fisher played his first eight NBA seasons with the Lakers before leaving for Golden State and later Utah, only to return prior to the 2007-08 season. He won five championships with the franchise.
Fisher became expendable after the Lakers acquired point guard Ramon Sessions from the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier Thursday. Sessions presumably becomes the Lakers' starter, with Steve Blake backing him up off the bench.
Fisher was averaging 5.9 points and 3.3 assists this season but was widely respected for his locker-room presence and clutch shooting. Hill, a third-year player out of Arizona, was averaging 5.0 points and 4.8 rebounds for the Rockets.
The draft pick sent to Houston in the deal was initially acquired from Dallas as part of the Lakers' trade for Lamar Odom in December.
RELATED:
Lakers trade Luke Walton for Ramon Sessions
Pau Gasol handles trade talks with grace, mixed emotions
Lakers continue to pursue Michael Beasley before trade deadline
Longtime Laker Derek Fisher headed to Houston for Jordan Hill
