Fisher chooses family; waived

Dallas Mavericks guard Derek Fisher (UALR, Little Rock Parkview) was released by the team Saturday at Fisher’s request so he could be closer to his family.
Dallas Mavericks guard Derek Fisher (UALR, Little Rock Parkview) was released by the team Saturday at Fisher’s request so he could be closer to his family.

— The Dallas Mavericks waived Derek Fisher (Little Rock Parkview, UALR) on Saturday at the request of the veteran guard, who said he was having a difficult time being away from his family in Los Angeles.

The Mavericks announced the move four days after Fisher, 38, strained a tendon in his right knee in a game against Philadelphia.

Fisher, a 16-year veteran who won five championships with the Los Angeles Lakers, was a free agent when the Mavericks signed him because of injuries, a lack of depth and spotty play at point guard.

Fisher started last season with the Lakers but ended up with the Oklahoma City Thunder and played significant minutes in the team’s run to the Western Conference championship. The Thunder lost to the Miami Heat in a five-game NBA Finals, and Fisher parted ways with the Thunder after the season, becoming a free agent, finally hooking up with Dallas.

He started his first game with Dallas a day after his first practice and averaged 8.6 points and 3.6 assists in nine games. The Mavericks won four of their first five games with Fisher in the lineup and were 5-4 with Fisher before his injury. Without Fisher, Dallas (12-15) had a 7-11 record.

In a statement, Fisher said the recovery time on the knee strain would be about two weeks, and he wanted to return home. Fisher thanked Mavericks owner Mark Cuban for granting the request.

“I have made decisions in the past, leaving money and opportunity on the table, and I will need to do that again,” Fisher said. “My family is my priority and that is where I choose to be.”

While he was playing for the Utah Jazz in 2007, Fisher’s daughter Tatum suffered from retinoblastoma, a childhood cancer of the eye.

Fisher didn’t sound like a player ready to hang it up after his first practice with the Mavericks on Nov. 30, telling reporters that his arrival in Dallas was no “pit stop.”

“This is not kind of the final whatever before I decide to retire soon,” Fisher said. “I’m here to give everything I have to help this team right now and continue to build as we go through this season.”

Darren Collison started the first 16 games at point guard before Dallas signed Fisher. Dominique Jones had a season high in minutes the past two games, topped by 32 in Friday’s 92-82 loss to Memphis. Jones tied his career high with 13 points against the Grizzlies.

Rodrigue Beaubois is the third point guard for Dallas.

Point guard was one of the biggest questions for the Mavericks entering the season after Deron Williams chose to stay with the Brooklyn Nets and Jason Kidd signed with the New York Knicks after saying he planned to rejoin Dallas. Kidd helped lead the Mavericks to the 2011 NBA title.

To fill Fisher’s roster spot, the Mavericks will sign guard Chris Douglas-Roberts. Douglas-Roberts averaged 22.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in 11 games this season for the NBA Development League’s Texas Legends.

Sports, Pages 25 on 12/23/2012

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