DALLAS — The Mavs' situation at point guard gets more unsettled by the moment. The latest bit of jostling: In what is apparently a mutually-agreed-to move, Dallas has waived Derek Fisher.
"I have asked the organization to waive me so I can return home," says Fisher, and that's that.
The Dallas Mavericks announced the transaction at 4:41 p.m. Saturday, saying simply that they have requested waivers on guard Derek Fisher. Fisher was signed as a free agent by Dallas on Nov. 29.
Fisher (6-1, 210) averaged 8.6 points, 3.6 assists and 25.4 minutes in nine games (all starts) for Dallas this season.
It's clearly a bit more complicated than that, however.
The Mavericks’ roster now stands at 14 players. Indications are that Dallas is set to call up Chris Douglas-Roberts from Frisco, where he was set to play on Saturday night for the D-League Legends. Douglas-Roberts is a former second-round NBA draftee who has played in 155 NBA games with the Nets and Bucks, making 53 starts.
Fisher has a knee problem, having sustained an injury during Tuesday's night game against the 76ers. Lauded by coach Rick Carlisle for his leadership and plus-minus performance, Fisher did not play in games on Thursday or Friday. There was also a confounding moment before the Tuesday game, when Fisher was ruled out, then in, due to flu symptoms.
Fisher cited family issues are behind his motivation to leave a club he joined in part because of the ups and downs of Darren Collison.
"In Tuesday’s game against Philadelphia I suffered an injury to my patellar tendon. The recovery time will be approximately 2 weeks,'' he wrote on his Twitter page after the transaction was complete. "With this news & the difficulty I have been having being away from my family I have asked the organization to waive me so I can return home.
"Mark Cuban has been extremely supportive and has granted me this request. I cannot say enough good things about this organization. From Mark, to Coach Carlisle, to the players on the Mavericks team, I sincerely thank them for the opportunity."
Fisher made no other noises of unhappiness while here, except for noting this week that lineup instability might be one of the reasons for Dallas' mediocre 12-15 start.
