Inside Bay Area - Mullin and his "mistake" Fisher

It's been called one of the ten worse free agent signings in the NBA - ever. It ranks at #10 and it is Warrior's GM Chris Mullin signing PG Derek Fisher and Center Adonel Foyle to large, long term contracts. Well look at this, Fisher is wanted by a lot of teams and they are hoping the Warriors will release him under the amnesty rule because the conventional wisdom was/is that Fisher is overpaid.

Maybe the contracted Mullin offered was not that bad.

The argument against Fisher's contract is the length and amount. He'll cost the team salary in the later years of this long contract (Foyle too) but not be as productive. One factor for Mullin's decision is that both guys were courted by other teams and both guys are outstanding, and coachable characters.

Maybe in the later part of the contract, paying an older Derek Fisher seven plus million to play backup point guard and spot-up shooter is too much. It is becoming clear that the Warriors have a gem today and Fisher is wanted by teams looking to win a title, not just make the playoffs.

If signing Fisher stopped the cancer in the locker room and helped turn this team into a hardworking unit, then the pissing and moaning about the future burden of Fisher's contract is short sighted thinking.

Inside Bay Area - Sports: "Releasing Fisher and the $31.9 million he's due over the next five seasons would allow the Warriors to sign a significant free agent this summer. So the question becomes: Is there one out there that warrants throwing away that kind of money? The answer is no.

First off, understand if the Warriors were to lose Fisher, they'd be sacrificing not only their best catch-and-shoot perimeter marksman but also their chief insurance policy should Baron Davis get hurt.

Without question, Mullin immediately would have to replace Fisher with ... well, another Fisher. Preferably an upgraded model.

The only player who's close to qualifying among the available free agents is Memphis guard Earl Watson, a very popular commodity on the market right now.

It would cost the Warriors about $29 million to get the former UCLA standout, which in essence would be $60 million when you factor in the amount owed Fisher.

Watson isn't worth that kind of money. Neither is Gary Payton, Latrell Sprewell or Nick Van Exel — other big-name free agents.

Shaquille O'Neal wants Fisher in Miami. Phil Jackson needs him back in Los Angeles.

Sorry, guys. This isn't the 'charity'"