16 Players the Mavericks never should have gambled on

4. Derek Fisher

Fisher is best known for playing point guard next to Kobe Bryant and helping the Lakers win five championships. The 6’1 guard hit iconic shots and filled a crucial roles in his career, but his time in Dallas won’t be remembered fondly.

Dallas desperately needed a point guard in 2012 as they looked to make the playoffs for the 13th consecutive year. Head coach Rick Carlisle wanted an upgrade over Darren Collison, so the franchise gave Fisher a shot in late November. The Mavs were 7-9 and had lost three straight before his first game on Dec. 1.

Fisher was gone by Christmas. He averaged 8.6 points and 3.4 assists in 25.4 minutes per game over nine contests, but the 38-year-old shot just 35.4 percent from the field and committed a career-high 2.0 turnovers per game. Fisher requested his release after suffering a knee injury only to join the Thunder two months later. The Mavericks were upset as the veteran point guard cited spending more time with his family.

The Derek Fisher experiment helped derail the season. Darren Collison never worked as the starting point guard, and the Dallas Mavericks missed the playoffs for the first time since 2000 after finishing 41-41. The franchise certainly wishes they did not gamble on the five-time champion.