Losing the veteran leadership of Derek Fisher, who was released by the Utah Jazz at the guard’s own request in order to care for his daughter and her much publicized bout with eye cancer, is going to be a great loss for the Utah Jazz. The Utah Jazz succeeded where the other young but very talented team, the Toronto Raptors, failed. It is likely that Fisher’s leadership was key to their success in their first post-season experience in the last four years.

You have to wonder, though, how long the Jazz have known that this was going to happen — most likely far in advance of the draft.

Let’s look at the facts and where the Jazz find themselves now.

The Jazz pick of Morris Almond, another shooting guard, added to a glut at the two that included four other capable but not exceptional shooting guards. This was a popular pick, but to many sports writers (myself included) it was not a very wise one.

Add the rumor that they were thinking of re-signing Dee Brown AND C.J. Miles (wise moves, in my opinion) and that they were looking to sign the Toronto Raptors free agent Morris Peterson and all of us fans were beginning to wonder what the top dogs at the Utah Jazz were thinking.

With Derek Fisher, starting shooting guard and backup point guard, released to care for his daughter, the overwhelming number of guards is reduced to a much more manageable level — perhaps even a dangerous level in the minds of some Jazz fans.

Dee Brown’s re-signing becomes very important as the backup point guard, and his desire to stick around increases as more playing time now opens up. Jazz fans start wondering, however, if any of the other guards could handle the ball well enough to operate as a point guard for small stretches should the situation demand it, especially after the recent situations in the playoffs.

There is also a chance that Gordan Giricek and the one year remaining on his contract could be traded to a team desiring to free up cap space, thus reducing the Jazz guards to Deron Williams, Dee Brown, C.J. Miles, Ronnie Brewer, and Morris Almond.

Which would have Jazz fans asking themselves, can Morris Peterson play point guard if needed?