2. Erick Dampier
Dampier was a long-time starting center with both the Mavericks and Warriors before arriving in Miami. The 6’11 big man rarely produced massive stats, but his rebounding, rim protection, and screen setting kept him in the lineup. He signed a seven-year $73 million contract with the Mavs in 2004, and Dallas dumped him before the final season of his deal in 2010.
The Heat were 14 games into their first campaign with LeBron James and Chris Bosh when they signed Dampier on Nov. 23. The 35-year-old big man was waiting for an opportunity, and Miami wanted a veteran after Udonis Haslem’s injury.
Dampier played in 51 games and made 22 starts down the stretch before falling completely out of the rotation in April. The 6’11 averaged just 2.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks in 16.0 minutes per game. He left plenty to be desired and did not play one second of postseason basketball as the Heat lost to Dampier’s former team, the Dallas Mavericks, in the NBA Finals.
The 6’11 big man went unsigned until landing a deal with the Hawks in March of 2012. He played in just 15 more NBA games before retiring at 36.
Erick Dampier should not have been a starter next to Dwyane Wade on the Heatles, but he was not quite Miami’s worst starter next to the first-ballot Hall of Famer.