Can There Be Any Doubt that Pat Riley is the 2010-11 NBA Executive of the Year?

Although being courted by the Miami Heat, which included an airport greeting by LeBron James prior to his meeting with Heat president Pat Riley and team owner Mickey Arison, Los Angeles Lakers free agent point guard Derek Fisher has decided to re-sign with the two-time defending NBA Champions.

In a statement released on his website, Fisher summarized the reasons why Los Angeles will remain his home for the immediate future.

“My free agency was a time for me to reevaluate my position in the league, reflect on my accomplishments individually and as a teammate, and determine what new goals I want to achieve in the future. Many reports were completely false. Numbers reported were guesses and true "sources" were few and far between.

I took time to consider all my options, many not reported in the media. I listened to every coach, every general manager, even potential teammates in order to make the right decision and I thank every one of them. At the end of the day, there's one person I could not turn away from. Kobe Bryant asked me to stay but supported whatever decision I made. He and I have played together for 11 seasons, came into the league together as kids, and has been loyal to me even when others had doubts. We have won five championships together.

I have decided to continue with Kobe, continue with our teammates and the fans of Los Angeles. While this may not be the most lucrative contract I've been offered this off season, it is the most valuable.

I am confident I will continue to lead this team on and off the court. Let the hunt for six begin...”

Score one for Kobe Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers, and Derek Fisher for electing to continue being a leader in Los Angeles rather than become a follower in Miami.

However, the Heat quickly rebounded from Fisher’s rejection with two crucial signings to provide support for the trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

According to ESPN.com, free agent power forward Udonis Haslem signed a five-year deal with Miami Monday worth around $20 million; more than $10 million less than he could have gotten had he accepted offers from the Dallas Mavericks or the Denver Nuggets.

"I would be changing my DNA if I left just for money," Haslem said.

Haslem averaged 9.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game for the Heat last season and in his seven-year career, all spent in South Beach, the 6’8” Florida product has posted 10.0 points and 8.1 rebounds per contest.

In addition, the Heat also signed Washington Wizards free agent swingman Mike Miller, who averaged 10.9 points per game in 54 games last season while shooting 50.1% from the field and a blistering 48.0% from three-point range.

Now that Miami is set at the wing positions, Pat Riley will now focus on signing players that will help beef up the Heat’s front court, anchored by Haslem and Chris Bosh, as well as bringing in a veteran point guard as he attempted to do with Derek Fisher.

In any case, it can never be understated how important it was to re-sign a banger like Haslem and a shooter like Miller, which should only further confirm that Riley is the early favorite, by far, for next season’s NBA Executive of the Year Award because like it or not, thus far, he’s done a masterful job assembling the new look Miami Heat.

Click here for additional evidence.

Click here to read more about 2010 NBA Free Agency on Examiner.com, which includes all the relevant links and special video presentations that you can handle and then some.

LeBron James Serves as Airport Greeter for Derek Fisher’s Meeting with Heat

As reported here, Los Angeles Lakers free agent point guard Derek Fisher met with Miami Heat president Pat Riley Saturday afternoon.

Fisher's preference remains to re-sign with the Lakers, but he felt the need to explore his options and listened to Riley's pitch as Los Angeles general manager Mitch Kupchak continues to work on an offer that is satisfactory to the five-time NBA Champion.

Prior to his meeting with Riley and Heat owner Mickey Arison though, Fisher received a warm welcome at the airport from a team representative that could heavily influence his decision to relocate from Hollywood, California to ‘Hollywood East’.

According to ESPNLA.com, newly signed Heat small forward LeBron James met Fisher at the airport and gave his own pitch as to why the 14-year veteran should join forces with ‘Miami Thrice’.

It was a short meeting as James was at the airport to board a flight to New York to attend the wedding of Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony, but James clearly went out of his way to wait for Fisher to arrive and meet with him for a few minutes.

Guess Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh weren’t available, huh?

In any case, Fisher reportedly received a $2.5 million offer for next season from Los Angeles. Miami could likely offer Fisher up to $4.5 million, based on its available cap space even after signing James, Bosh and Wade.

Kobe Bryant, a 1996 NBA Draft classmate, has publicly stated, in no uncertain terms, that the Lakers need to re-sign Fisher, who is a locker room leader and an emotional metronome for the passionate two-time reigning NBA Finals MVP.

"We need to have him back, it's as simple as that," Bryant told ESPNLA.com’s Dave McMenamin at his Kobe Bryant Skills Academy on the UC Santa Barbara campus. "It's not a question of if he will be back; it's a matter of when.

"I don't care what [the cost] is. ... They need to work that out and get him back because his significance to our ballclub and to me cannot be understated."

All signs point to Fisher re-signing with the team where he has won every single one of his championships; however, there is no question that Pat Riley will pull out all the stops to acquire a player who will provide stability and tremendous veteran leadership to the most hyped collection of talent in league history.

So the rivalry has begun without a single second of basketball played; with Phil Jackson, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers on one side and Pat Riley & ‘Miami Thrice’ on the other, ‘Hollywood West’ versus ‘Hollywood East’.

Derek Fisher is the ultimate prize this time around. Will the NBA Championship be soon to follow?

Click here to read more about 2010 NBA free agency on Examiner.com.

Credit ESPNLA.com

Derek Fisher to meet with the Miami Heat

With South Beach becoming the center of the basketball universe after LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh agreed to sign with the Miami Heat, the curiosity has been piqued of the remaining free agents about the potential dynasty being put together in the ‘Sunshine State’.

In fact, the interest is at such a high level that even a member of the defending NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers can’t resist taking a peek.

According to ESPNLA.com, Lakers free agent point guard Derek Fisher is scheduled to meet with Heat president Pat Riley on Saturday.

Fisher's preference remains to re-sign with the Lakers, but he feels the need to explore his options and listen to Riley's pitch as Los Angeles general manager Mitch Kupchak continues to work on an offer that is satisfactory to the five-time NBA Champion.

If it were up to Kobe Bryant though, Fisher would have been locked up by the Lakers well before any meetings were scheduled with other organizations.

"We need to have him back, it's as simple as that," Bryant told ESPNLosAngeles.com's Dave McMenamin at his Kobe Bryant Skills Academy on the UC Santa Barbara campus. "It's not a question of if he will be back; it's a matter of when.

"I don't care what [the cost] is. ... They need to work that out and get him back because his significance to our ballclub and to me cannot be understated."

Although Fisher will listen to what Riley and the Heat have to offer, the Lakers are confident the 14-year veteran will eventually re-sign with the organization.

However, Mitch Kupchak would be best served not to allow this situation to linger because Riley has proven to be extremely persuasive when push comes to shove. Just ask Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James.

Click here to read more about 2010 NBA free agency on Examiner.com.