To pick up where the story left off in July, Tatum Fisher has beaten back the rare form of eye cancer, her father said. The hospital visits now consist of checkups and evaluations, as opposed to chemotherapy.
Soon the cross-country flights will end for Fisher and his family.
"I think one more time we'll probably have to go back to New York and from there everything is set up here,'' Fisher said Monday, adding, "We're just trying to stay in touch and make sure we're staying on top of it."
Not even four months have passed since Fisher bid farewell to the Jazz in an emotional press conference in Salt Lake City, walking away from $20.6 million in guaranteed money to find a team in a city that better fit his daughter's medical needs.
It was a decision that would lead Fisher back to the Lakers, the team with which he won three championships and played his first eight NBA seasons, at a moment when the franchise could not be in greater need of his stability and voice of reason.
Although he played only one season in Utah, Fisher authored one of the signature moments in franchise history, spending all day by his daughter's side at a New York hospital only to fly back in time to inspire the Jazz to victory in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals.
All those memories of Fisher arriving at EnergySolutions Arena by police escort, checking into the game immediately after walking out from the locker room, and hitting an overtime three-pointer are sure to come back tonight when Fisher faces the Jazz for the first time since he was released July 2.
The Jazz will play the Lakers in preseason games tonight in Anaheim, Calif., and Thursday in San Diego. Fisher has remained close to former teammates Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer, in particular, and predicted the reunion would be fun.
"I talked to those guys quite a bit over the summer," Fisher said, "so it seems like I haven't been away from them that long. I still feel close to them in a great way."
Boozer said Fisher was a source of support as his 16-month-old son, Carmani, was going through his own battle with sickle cell disease. "We're each other's big brothers, so to speak, throughout his process and throughout mine,'' Boozer said.
As he spoke Monday after the Lakers' practice, Fisher was wearing a pair of Nikes with the word "Family" printed in small letters just below the laces. The sentiment means more to him now than ever before, Fisher said.
So does the chance to return a city that always has embraced him. Fisher already has played host to a "Welcome Back" party at a restaurant off Sunset Boulevard. It was his way of saying thanks to so many supporters.
In the end, Fisher took a $6.5 million loss from the events of this summer, after signing a three-year, $14.1 million contract with the Lakers. The circumstances of Fisher's departure, however, still inspire strong feelings, from those who question whether he saw a way out of Utah.
Asked about Fisher, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said only: "I'm just happy he's happy, that's the most important thing." Owner Larry Miller, meanwhile, said in an interview earlier this month that he is asked more questions about Fisher's motives than just about anything else.
Although Miller does not doubt Fisher's conviction, given the millions from which he walked away, the owner said, "It did look funny when we just released Derek outright . . . and like three weeks later he signed with the Lakers."
"There's no real way to know that,'' Miller added. "What I've chosen to do is to say, 'I don't think so,' partly because I don't want to believe it, but also because I think he's a man of integrity."
As unsure of his basketball future as he seemed the day he was released, wondering just what jobs were out there for a soon-to-be 33-year-old guard, Fisher was linked to the Lakers only 24 hours later. He agreed to terms in a matter of 10 days and signed after clearing waivers.
"If you experienced it, it wasn't quick,'' Fisher said. "If you were me or in my family, that was a long three or four weeks."
Fisher changed agents in the process, which he compared to starting over negotiations, and said he worried about everything from the care his daughter would receive to the support network his wife would have with him on the road.
"It all just kind of fell in line and it starts to make you think that it was just the way it was meant to be,'' said Fisher, whose daughter is being treated at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.
He ticked off the events of the last six months to make his point. His daughter was diagnosed with cancer. The Jazz let him out of the final three years of his contract. The Lakers had a need for a guard with triangle offense experience. They had enough free-agent money to make the deal happen.
"There's no plan to that,'' Fisher said. "That just kind of happened and I'm fortunate to have been able to step into this opportunity. Now I want to make the most of it."
Back in Los Angeles, Fisher has found a franchise still reeling from Kobe Bryant's trade demand. The Lakers have failed to advance out of the first round in three seasons since the Shaquille O'Neal trade.
"I like the fact that we're where we are right now because it provides a level of hunger for us that you should have,'' said Fisher, who sees a 50-win team if healthy. "If you want to be good, things shouldn't get handed to you. You have to go out and work for it."
rsiler@sltrib.com
Jazz: Utah prepares to face Fisher
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