16 Players the Mavericks never should have gambled on

8. Vernon Maxwell

Maxwell went from second-round pick to key rotation player after arriving in Houston. The 6’4 guard was the team’s second-leading scorer during their 1994 championship run. The Rockets repeated as champions in 1995, but Maxwell left the team during the playoffs. He was upset they acquired Clyde Drexler to play over him, and Maxwell made a quick exit in following the campaign.

The 6’4 guard played for seven different teams over the next six seasons. He continued to be a role player into his mid-30s but struggled with injuries. The 76ers waived him twice during that stretch, including in Dec. 2000, which opened the door for the Mavericks to sign him two months later.

Dallas needed a veteran guard as they looked to snap their decade-long playoff drought. Maxwell’s minutes dwindled as the postseason approached. The 35-year-old averaged 4.3 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 15.0 minutes per game, but shot just 31.6 percent from the field. He played in four playoff games but was out of the rotation during their the second-round series loss to the Spurs.

Vernon Maxwell retired from the NBA after his stint with the Dallas Mavericks. He struggled to make shots and had nothing left in the tank. Most fans likely do not remember Maxwell finishing his career in Dallas.