It seemed like a clever gimmick when Lakers guard Derek Fisher, actor David Arquette and fast-food icon Ronald McDonald heaved 33-foot shots from a third-story balcony at L.A. Live on Tuesday to publicize the Lakers 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament to be held Aug. 14-16 and benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California.
Under difficult circumstances, Fisher gave it his all. He tried flinging. He tried finessing. He shot from a running start. He shot from a standing start.
Though known for his clutch long-range shooting, he couldn't get anything to fall and had to watch avid Lakers fan Arquette make the only shot while TV cameras were rolling.
In an ideal world, Lamar Odom would have come off the bench to hit a big shot and restore the Lakers' supremacy, as he did so often during their last title run.
"We want him back badly," Fisher said, "and I hope we can accomplish that in the next couple days."
For now Odom remains an unsigned free agent, a week after owner Jerry Buss withdrew an offer that would have been worth $9 million per season over four seasons (three of them guaranteed) or $10 million per season over three seasons.
Miami, which can offer Odom up to $34 million over five seasons and potential state income tax benefits, supposedly has been flirting with Odom. Nothing seems imminent on that front, and a Lakers spokesman said Tuesday nothing had changed regarding Odom from the club's end.
Nothing has changed from Fisher's perspective, either.
"There's no question that we need him back. We want him back," Fisher said. "If those things are in place, hopefully we can just go and get this done and put this behind us and start working on 2009-10."
According to Fisher, Odom's value goes well beyond the impressive 12.3 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists Odom averaged while playing 32 minutes per game in 23 playoff games, five of them starts.
Fisher looks past Odom's occasional frustrating, not-all-there performances and sees Odom's easygoing manner adding levity to the locker room.
He saw Odom adjust to playing a reserve role and applauded Odom's ability to move into the power forward slot and become a rebounding machine during Andrew Bynum's frequent postseason bouts with foul trouble.
Asked about the impact new acquisition Ron Artest will have on the Lakers, Fisher framed his response in reference to Odom's absence, saying Artest would provide strength and size up front "for the untimely lack of re-signing of Lamar."
