As Carmelo Anthony continues to mull over his decision on where to play next season, questions about his different options persist. One of the biggest questions about remaining in New York is first-time head coach Derek Fisher.
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Fisher was hired by Phil Jackson and will become the second player in the last two seasons to become a head coach right after retiring from playing. Many wonder what kind of coach he will be, but reigning MVP Kevin Durant apparently backed Fisher to Carmelo Anthony according to Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski:
Kevin Durant offered Carmelo Anthony a strong endorsement of Derek Fisher this week in L.A., where two stars have worked out, sources say.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 9, 2014
Fisher has long been one of the most respected players in NBA circles. Winning five championships in Los Angeles with the Lakers, and serving as President of the NBA Players Association.
Fisher spent his last two seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder with Durant. If Anthony was really worried about the possibility of playing for Fisher, Durant’s word could help him feel more comfortable.
Anthony has been courted by a number of teams, but at this point is reportedly deciding between the Knicks and the Lakers. With such a major decision, every little bit of advice matters, so Durant endorsing Fisher could be the turning point.
The Lakers are currently awaiting the decision of Anthony before they chase other free agents. Securing Anthony would likely allow Pau Gasol to return and give the Lakers a solid core to build around.
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