12 Worst free agent signings in Mavericks history

10. DeAndre Jordan

The Mavs almost signed Jordan in 2015 before the Clippers made a final push after he had verbally agreed with Dallas. It was one of the crazier free agent sagas as it appeared Dallas had finally landed a marquee name off the open market only for him to go back on his word just before officially signing.

Three years later, he signed with the Mavericks on a one-year deal worth $24.1 million. The three-time All-NBA big man had just turned 30 years old, and Dallas expected him to be a dominant force in the paint and on the glass. They needed a pick-and-roll partner for their two young point guards at the time. Dennis Smith Jr. was entering his second NBA season, and the Mavs had just pulled off the draft night trade for Luka Doncic.

Jordan last just six months with the Mavericks before he was traded to New York in the Kristaps Porzingis deal. During his 50 games in Dallas, the 6’11 big man averaged 11.0 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 31.1 minutes per game, but he struggled to protect the rim and be the dominant force the Mavs hoped they acquired.

Luka was special as a rookie, so the front office jumped at the chance to add a second young star. The Kristaps Porzingis pairing never worked out, but it was a smart swing by Dallas that ended DeAndre Jordan's tenure before it got started. Still, he did not return anywhere close to the $24 million that the Mavericks signed him for that summer.