NBA Free Agency 2012: 5 Players Who Will Regret Their Decisions

With the 2012 NBA free agency period hitting its endpoint, nearly every notable free agent has found a home.

But while some will undoubtedly be satisfied in their stomping grounds, others will be disappointed in their choices.

Who will wind up regretting their decision in NBA free agency? Here's a look at the five guys who will regret their decision the most.

Grant Hill (SF, Los Angeles Clippers)

Contract Information: Two years, $3.9 million

2011-12 Season Stats:  10.2 PPG, 2.2 APG, 3.5 RPG, 0.8 SPG, 12.34 PER

If NBA history tells us anything, it's that if you're given the choice between the two Los Angeles basketball franchises, always choose the Lakers.

The 39-year-old Hill, who seemingly isn't much of a history buff, chose the Clippers and their $1.9 bi-annual exception over the Lakers' veteran's minimum contract offer.

Instead of playing with good friend Steve Nash and the incumbent Lakers star trio, Hill took a chance on Lob City.

While playing with Chris Paul and Blake Griffin is certainly the better long-term move, Hill's time in the NBA is limited, and he's without an NBA championship.

Barring a miraculous run, the Clippers aren't winning an NBA championship next season. The Lakers' championship window is open, and it's now.

If the Lakers wind up making a run at a championship while the Clippers are sent packing, Hill will certainly live to regret his decision. 

Jason Kidd (PG, New York Knicks)

Contract Information: Three years, $9 million

2011-12 Season Stats: 6.2 PPG, 5.5 APG, 4.1 RPG, 1.7 SPG, 13.11 PER

When Jason Kidd agreed to his three-year deal with the Knicks, it was widely assumed that the 39-year-old point guard would simply serve as a backup and mentor to Jeremy Lin.

But Lin's signing with the Houston Rockets opens up a vault of unwanted and unneeded responsibility for J-Kidd.

If Raymond Felton falters as the Knicks' starting point guard early in the season, the team will undoubtedly switch to the steady hands of Kidd. Only, at this point in his career, Kidd is little more than a spot-up three-point shooter and occasional beautiful pass thrower.

He's a defensive turnstile who could expose the entire Knicks defense and doesn't have the legs to play extended minutes.

So, basically, Kidd's entire New York experience is reliant on Felton playing well and keeping Kidd at a 20-minute-per-night pace. Not exactly what you would call an ideal scenario.

Jeremy Lin (PG, Houston Rockets)

Contract Information: Three years, $25.1 million

2011-12 Stats: 14.6 PPG, 6.2 APG, 3.1 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 19.97 PER

I could never begrudge someone for choosing money over circumstance, but the fact remains that Lin left a far superior roster in New York than the one he'll play with in Houston.

And while the ultimate onus definitely falls on the Knicks for refusing to match Lin's contract, it would have been better for the Knicks, Lin and the NBA for Lin to stay.

For the Knicks, losing Lin means relying on Raymond Felton, a player with questionable motivation, and Jason Kidd, an NBA geriatric, to play the point guard spot.

For the NBA, it means moving an abundantly marketable talent outside the league's most marketable city.

And for Lin, it means playing with a piecemeal group of young talent whose ultimate purpose is to bring a superstar to Houston—not win basketball games.

Eric Gordon (SG, New Orleans Hornets)

Contract Information: Four years, $58 million

2011-12 Season Stats: 22.3 PPG, 4.4 APG, 2.9 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 18.56 PER

Eric Gordon won't regret coming back to the Hornets, because he was without choice in the matter.

He will, however, regret burning his New Orleans bridges in an ill-fated attempt to bolt for the Phoenix Suns.

Here's what Gordon said, via USA Today:

"

They say I'm their best player, right? What would you think of that offer? … It feels like I'm being taken advantage of over there just because I'm restricted. If they wanted to, it's built for me to stay with your remaining team.

"

And with the inevitable matching of the contract from New Orleans comes a sticky situation for the organization and Gordon.

He'll undoubtedly be the Hornets' best or second best player next season. Will fans welcome him back with open arms or spend the next few years mercilessly booing their shooting guard?

By opening his mouth, Gordon opened himself to a cavalcade of criticism, especially when everyone knew the Hornets would match the contract.

Deron Williams (PG, Brooklyn Nets)

Contract Information: Five years, $98 million

2011-12 Season Stats: 21.0 PPG, 8.7 APG, 3.3 RPG,1.2 SPG, 20.34 PER

If Deron Williams' goal this offseason was to be the star of the Brooklyn Nets and compete for a two or three seed over the next five years, then he chose the perfect location. But if Williams, as assumed, truly wanted to pair with Dwight Howard and compete for championships, it's starting to look like the point guard made the wrong choice.

When D-Will signed with Brooklyn, the sign-and-trade option for Howard was still on the table, and Nets management thought it was an inevitability. We all saw how that turned out.

And with Joe Johnson as the only major addition to Brooklyn's roster this offseason, the forecast is looking like a whole lot of good with no chance of great for the Nets. Of course, that all changes if D12 is still on Orlando's roster in January and Brooklyn pulls off a Howard heist.

But with Dallas as the clubhouse leader for the disgruntled center's services via free agency (via Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski), D-Will's best championship opportunity may have passed when he left the hometown Mavs at the altar.