15 players the Dallas Mavericks signed past their prime

The Dallas Mavericks just lost their second-straight preseason game to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and they play Real Madrid on October 10.

Dallas had a successful summer, as they signed multiple impactful free agents, and drafted Dereck Lively II and Olivier-Maxence Prosper.

Although Dallas' offseason seems to have been solid this season, not every signing will work out.

15 players the Dallas Mavericks signed past their prime

Making front office decisions in the NBA is tougher than most people think.

Especially when you have to build for the future as well as right now. It's a hard balance to find sometimes, and teams sign players way past their prime without even knowing it.

The signing looks great at the time, but once the player hits the floor it looks like an obvious mistake. Aging is a normal thing, and players can't play at an elite level for their entire career.

Here's a list of 15 players that the Dallas Mavericks signed past their prime.

15. Kemba Walker

Towards the end of November 2022, the Dallas Mavericks released Facundo Campazzo and signed Kemba Walker.

Campazzo struggled during his time in Dallas and Walker was a 4-time All-Star, so signing Walker was going to work out great, right?

Sadly, Walker only played nine games for the Mavs, and they released him right before his contract became fully guaranteed. In those nine games, Walker averaged 8.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.

There were some bright spots from Walker's time in Dallas, including a 32-point game in his third game playing for Dallas, but Walker was nowhere close to the player that he once was.

His role steadily declined after that great game he had against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and it became obvious that Dallas wouldn't need him. Walker's knee was a concern for his entire stint in Dallas, and he didn't get picked up after Dallas released him in January.

Walker is now signed with AS Monaco on a one-year contract, and there is a possibility that Walker's last stop in the NBA was when we played for the Mavs this past season.

14. Deron Williams

Deron Williams had the chance to be one of the best point guards in the NBA, but injuries caused his game to decline tremendously during his time with the Brooklyn Nets, and the Mavs ended up signing him to a two-year deal back in 2015.

Williams wasn't a bad player by any means for the Mavericks, but his performance was much worse than what we saw during his prime with the Utah Jazz and one year with the New Jersey Nets (before they rebranded to the Brooklyn Nets). He averaged 21.0 points during the 2011-12 season, and within two years after that, his point per game average fell to 14.3.

Dallas signed him after he averaged 13.0 points per game for the Nets while shooting 38.7 percent from the field. Williams was nowhere close to the caliber of player he was when Dallas pursued him in free agency the first few times, and the Mavs ended up waiving him during his second year with the squad.

Williams battled injuries during his time in Dallas, and it was clear that his career was nearing the end soon. After finishing the 2016-17 season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Williams retired.

Williams was so special to watch during his prime with the Jazz, and he and Dallas happened to finally unite when it was a little too late.

13. Markieff Morris

The Dallas Mavericks made one of the biggest moves in franchise history back in February when they traded Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, and multiple draft picks to the Brooklyn Nets for Kyrie Irving and Markieeff Morris.

The Mavericks re-signed Irving on the first night of free agency as he was their obvious priority, and the Mavs re-signed Morris in September.

This was one of the more unexpected moves of the offseason on the Mavs end, as not many people expected him to be returning to Dallas after playing in just eight games after the trade.

In eight games for Dallas, Morris averaged 4.5 points and .5 rebounds per game. He scored 13 and 10 points in Dallas' last two games respectively, but bringing him back was a bit of a headscratcher on the Mavericks' end as he is just a veteran presence at this point.

The Mavericks need that type of presence, but that doesn't change the fact that he is way past his prime.

Morris played three years at Kansas and was 22 years old by the time he played his first NBA game. He is now entering his 13th season, and Morris is not close to the level of play that he exhibited at his peak.

Morris' best season was in 2016-17 when he averaged 14.0 points per game on a playoff team (the Washington Wizards). After that season, Morris only averaged double-digits one more time, and his production has steadily declined.

12. Dennis Rodman

This is one of the best players on this list, but his time in Dallas was extremely forgettable.

Most Mavs fans don't even know that he was ever on the team.

The Mavs signed Dennis Rodman in February of 2000 after he had been out of the NBA since April of 1999. Rodman finished the previous season with the Los Angeles Lakers and signed with the Mavs after owner Mark Cuban pursued him.

Rodman was a 5-time NBA Champion and 2-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year heading into his time in Dallas, but his performance as a Mav was not great.

Rodman only played in 12 games as a Maverick and averaged 2.8 points and 14.3 rebounds per game. Obviously, the rebounding numbers were still great, as Rodman is one of the best rebounders of all time, but his field goal percentage was way down at 38.7 percent.

He wasn't great on the court, but his actions off the court were worse. Rodman openly roasted his teammates, and the Mavs released him after just a few weeks. After Rodman left, the Mavs went on a tear and ended up winning 15 of their last 20 games.

Rodman was never a great fit on the Mavs, and he will be remembered for his six techincals and two ejections as a member of the Mavs rather than helping his team.

11. Deandre Jordan

One of the biggest free agency disasters in Dallas Mavericks franchise history came in the summer of 2015.

Deandre Jordan and the Mavs verbally agreed on a four-year, $80 million contract, but Jordan backed out on his word. The Los Angeles Clippers convinced him to stay, and he would return on a bigger contract.

Everyone on Dallas' end was expecting him to sign with Dallas and be Dirk Nowitzki's running mate, but he had a change of heart.

Three years later, Jordan opted out of his contract with the Clippers and hit the open market. The Mavs decided to sign the elite dunker to a one-year deal worth over $22 million, but maybe Dallas shouldn't have given him a second chance.

Jordan's stint in Dallas was not great. He averaged 11.0 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game as a 30-year-old. These stats may look great, but his performance on the court was not.

Jordan was a nightmare when defending in space, and he was a bit of a liability as a help defender. There were also reports that Jordan was playing selfishly according to his teammates, and he was later traded at the trade deadline in the Kristaps Porzingis trade.

It would have been different if Dallas signed Jordan the first time around, but by the time he got to Dallas, he was nowhere near the same player.

10. JaVale McGee

The Dallas Mavericks thought they had finally fixed their weakness at starting center last summer when they signed JaVale McGee to a lucrative three-year deal. McGee was coming off an impressive playoff run with the Phoenix Suns and had already played with the Mavs once before.

What could go wrong?

Apparently, everything.

McGee was promised the starting job from Jason Kidd months before training camp, and he lost that job in less than a month. His year in Dallas was a disaster, to say the least.

McGee averaged 4.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks per game. He was nearly unplayable, and this caused the Mavs to release him.

McGee's time in Dallas was a disaster due to him being a liability on defense, not being able to play normal minutes due to him getting winded easily, and not being a reliable option on offense.

McGee getting waived was inevitable as Dallas searched for a trade partner for multiple months before waiving him. This was one of Dallas' biggest free agency mistakes of the last few years, and they'll be paying for it for the next couple of years.

McGee signed a contract with the Sacramento Kings this offseason, and his first matchup with the Mavs is on November 19.

9. Amar'e Stoudemire

Amar'e Stoudemire had a phenomenal career in the NBA as he averaged 18.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, 0.8 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game, but his time in Dallas was forgettable (by most), and he was way past his prime.

The Dallas Mavericks signed Stoudemire in February 2015 after he was bought out by the New York Knicks. Dallas was in the thick of the playoff race and brought in Stoudemire to provide some depth off the bench.

Stoudemire was productive during his time in Dallas, as he averaged 10.8 points and 3.7 rebounds, but his numbers were way down, and he didn't rebound much at all.

Stoudemire's numbers had been regressing during his entire tenure playing for the Knicks, and his career ended shortly after leaving the Knicks. He averaged 25.3 points per game in his first season with New York, and those numbers fell all the way down to 12.0 points per game before reaching a buyout and joining Dallas.

Stoudemire ended up having a minor role in Dallas' playoff series against the Houston Rockets, but Dallas lost in five games, and he joined the Miami Heat that offseason.

Stoudemire played in 52 games for the Heat that season, and decided to play overseas after that.

8. Vince Carter

Vince Carter is known for being one of the greatest dunkers of all time and was a walking highlight reel for his entire career, but Dallas definitely signed him past his prime.

Dallas signed Carter to a three-year deal in 2011, and he was entering his age-35 season. Carter was four years removed from his eighth All-Star appearance, and his production was way down from his days with the Toronto Raptors and New Jersey Nets.

At Carter's peak, he averaged over 25 points per game and shot over 40 percent from downtown. He was already a force in the league within his first few seasons, and his prime stretched to his early days in New Jersey.

Once Carter left New Jersey, his career trajectory started slowing down quickly. This is normal for players as they get older, and his age was finally starting to catch up with him.

Carter was not a bad player by any means during his three seasons in Dallas, as he averaged 12.0 points and 3.7 rebounds, but he was nowhere near the player he was in Toronto and New Jersey.

Carter was a great veteran presence in Dallas and hit one of the biggest shots in franchise history against the San Antonio Spurs in the 2014 NBA Playoffs.

7. Isaiah Thomas

Isaiah Thomas had an underrated NBA career, and he had the chance to be one of the stars of the league if it wasn't for injuries. Thomas entered the league in 2011, and he retired after the 2021-22 season.

Despite playing 11 seasons in the NBA, Thomas only played in 550 games. His best season came in 2017, as he was considered for the NBA MVP, but after that, he never replicated that production.

After leaving Boston, Thomas played for seven different teams, and one of those teams happened to be the Mavs. Thomas signed a 10-day contract with the Mavs back in 2021, and he only played in one game for the Mavs. In that one game, Thomas played 13 minutes, scored six points, and dished out four assists.

Thomas' one game was the only action that Mavs fans got to see from him, as he was placed in the league's COVID-19 health and safety protocols and not re-signed.

Thomas' story is much more than injuries and 10-day contracts, as he went from being the last pick of the 2011 NBA Draft to a star point guard, but Mavs fans never got to see that star ability.

Thomas retired later that season after signing with the Charlotte Hornets. He played 17 games for the Hornets and averaged 8.3 points per game.

6. Brandon Knight

Although Brandon Knight is known for making boneheaded players and getting crossed over by Kyrie Irving, he actually had a solid NBA career.

In nine seasons in the NBA, Knight averaged 14.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.9 rebounds, and 0.9 steals per game. His best season came in the 2015-16 season with the Phoenix Suns, as he averaged 19.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists, but by the time he got to Dallas, he was in his thirties.

This would mark Knight's final stop in the NBA before heading overseas.

In five games for the Mavs, Knight averaged 6.4 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. Dallas signed him to two separate 10-day contracts during the 2021-22 season and decided not to sign him to another one.

Knight showed flashes during his time with the Mavs, as he had 18 points against the Portland Trailblazers. This was a weird time though as players were constantly going on the NBA's COVID-19 list, and he didn't play well enough for Dallas to keep him around.

Knight had an up-and-down NBA career that was a bit plagued by injury, but it seems that he will always be remembered for his appearances on Shaqtin' a Fool instead of his productive seasons in the league.

5. Derek Fisher

Just like many other players on this list, Derek Fisher is someone that most fans forget was on the Dallas Mavericks.

Fisher is best known for his time with the Los Angeles Lakers, as he won five NBA Championships, and his time in Dallas is easily forgotten. In his nine games played in Dallas, Fisher averaged 8.6 points, 3.4 assists, and 1.7 rebounds per game while shooting 43.5 percent from downtown.

He started in every game he played for Dallas but requested a release from the team to spend time with family. A few months later, he signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Fisher had played with the Thunder for 20 games in the season before he came to Dallas, and he finished off his career in Oklahoma City in 2014.

Fisher was 38 years old when he played for the Mavs, and his game obviously wasn't the same during his time in Dallas. Although he did claim it was to spend time with family, it did feel a bit strange when Fisher came out of retirement to play with the Thunder again.

Mark Cuban seemed to also think his departure was fishy and sent a jab his way a few years after he departed from Dallas. Fisher is now a high school basketball coach in California.

4. Richard Jefferson

During the time in between the Dallas Mavericks winning the NBA Finals in 2011 and them drafting Luka Doncic in 2018, there have been plenty of forgotten role players who had short stints in Dallas that are easily forgotten.

Richard Jefferson is one of those players.

Before signing with the Dallas Mavericks in the 2014 offseason, Jefferson averaged 14.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 0.7 steals per game. He was a solid role player for the New Jersey Nets and Milwaukee Bucks, with one of his best seasons coming in 2007-08 with the Nets.

He averaged 22.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 46.6 percent from the field. By the time Jefferson got to Dallas, he was 34 years old and not playing anywhere close to the level he was in New Jersey.

Jefferson had a decent season in Dallas, as he averaged 5.8 points and 2.5 rebounds per game off the bench, but his game had declined sharply since the previous year. He was only playing 16.8 minutes per game, and his game was showing signs of wear.

After leaving Dallas, Jefferson played two seasons in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers, winning the NBA Finals in 2016. After playing in Cleveland, he finished his career off playing for the Denver Nuggets.

3. Peja Stojakovic

Peja Stojakovic was a member of the beloved Dallas Mavericks 2011 NBA Finals team, but let's face it, he was way past his prime.

In 13 seasons in the NBA, Stojakovic averaged 17.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 0.9 steals per game. Contrary to the belief that Peja was just a role player, he actually was a 3-time NBA All-Star and made the 2004 All-NBA Second Team. He was a phenomenal 3-point shooter and scorer and was one of the more underrated players of the early 2000s.

In the middle of the 2010-11 season, the Toronto Raptors bought out Stojakovic. The rest is history as Peja signed with the Mavs and helped them win their first-ever NBA title. He was crucial for Dallas in the playoffs, as he averaged 7.1 points per game and shot 37.7 percent from deep.

Stojakovic always seemed to be hitting big shots, with his best game in the 2011 Playoffs coming in game four of the second round against the Los Angeles Lakers.

This game is better known as "The Mother's Day Massacre," as the Mavericks beat the Lakers by 36 points. Peja had 21 points in this game and went 6-6 from downtown.

This game was every Mavericks fan's dream, and Stojakovic and company helped the Mavs sweep the defending champions, the Los Angeles Lakers.

2. Charlie Villanueva

Charlie Villanueva only spent two years in Dallas, but let's face it, it was way past his prime.

The Mavericks signed Villanueva to a one-year deal in the summer of 2014 and then re-signed him the following summer. After that second year in Dallas Villanueva retired from the NBA.

In 11 seasons in the NBA, Villanueva averaged 10.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game. His best seasons came with the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons, as he was a valuable role player in his first few years, but in his last few years in Detroit, his numbers started to nosedive.

Villanueva didn't play like the player he was before, and his shooting numbers dipped astronomically.

He shot a combined 37.9 percent from the field and 33.1 percent from three in his final three seasons in Detroit. After playing in Detroit, he signed with Dallas. In two seasons with the Mavs, Villanueva averaged 5.7 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. He had a limited role, and he didn't play well when he was on the floor.

Villanueva's prime was short, but he did average double-digit points for six straight years before his downfall during the back half of his time in Detroit. He also averaged over 16 points per game in the 2008-09 season.

1. Elton Brand

The Dallas Mavericks won the right to sign Elton Brand in the summer of 2012, and he played for Dallas for one year. Brand averaged 7.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game in just 21.2 minutes per game.

He was a great bench for Dallas that year, but his minutes and production took a big dive from the previous season playing for the Philadelphia 76ers. He had also started in 830 of his 860 career games before coming to Dallas and only started in 18 games as a Maverick.

Brand's best season came in 2005-06 with the Los Angeles Clippers, as he averaged 24.7 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.0 steals, and 2.5 blocks per game. Brand was unstoppable with the Chicago Bulls and Clippers, but once he got to Philadelphia, he started to slow down a bit.

By the time he got to Dallas he was just a role player.

Brand was 33 years old when the Mavs signed him, and he was no longer a dominant force down low like he once was.

After playing with the Mavs during the 2012-13 season, he played in the NBA for three more seasons and retired after one final run with the 76ers. Brand was criminally underrated during his time in the NBA, and today's fans will never understand how dominant he was at one point.