The soon-to-be 33-year-old Fisher has agreed to a three-year, $14 million deal with the Lakers, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reported. Fisher still must clear a seven-day waiver period, although it is unlikely he would be claimed by another team.

That team would have to assume Fisher's old contract (worth $20.6 million) and have at least $6.37 million in salary-cap space for next season. The Jazz got back the paperwork to release Fisher from the league office Wednesday and officially waived him Thursday.

"We wish him the best,'' said Kevin O'Connor, the Jazz's senior vice president of basketball operations, "and I hope four games a year he doesn't play well against us."

At the start of July, Fisher asked to be released from his contract to find a team in a city that better met the medical needs of his 12-month-old daughter, Tatum, who is being treated for a rare form of eye cancer.

Only one day after Fisher's emotional press conference, his former agent, Mark Bartelstein, told two Los Angeles newspapers he was seeking a new contract with the Lakers, who are in need of a starting guard, preferably with triangle offense experience.

The Jazz, who took note of those comments, didn't question Fisher because he said he was open to being traded to several Eastern Conference teams and was walking away from millions in guaranteed money. They also acknowledged the Lakers had the biggest need for Fisher.

"We took him at his word - period," O'Connor said, adding, "If you keep looking back on things, you can second-guess everybody, and we're not going to do that."

Money matters

O'Connor always declines to comment on free agents, but he did have something interesting to say when asked how the contracts given to Toronto's Jason Kapono (four years, $24 million) and Charlotte's Matt Carroll (six years, $27 million) affect his dealings.

"It's called market value,'' O'Connor said. "The market's been set. But you know, you don't have to shop in that market."

Morris Peterson, the Jazz's top free-agent target, believes he's worthy of a similar deal, starting for the full midlevel exception of $5.356 million or close to it. The Jazz are planning on using at least a piece of the midlevel to sign second-round pick Kyrylo Fesenko.

Peterson is still planning to visit New Orleans and is expected to sign in the next two to four days, a source said. The Jazz remain in negotiations with his agent.

Briefly

Ronnie Brewer resumed practicing on Wednesday night after suffering a right hamstring injury and expects to play today . . . O'Connor said C.J. Miles won't play in the Rocky Mountain Revue even if he agrees to a contract with the team.

rsiler@sltrib.com