Fisher on Bargnani: 'His potential, I think excites us'

Andrea Bargnani will be active for the New York Knicks on Monday against the Miami Heat after playing just two games and 22 minutes all season due to calf and hamstring injuries.

He also missed 40 games in his first year in New York last season.

Bargnani re-injured his calf in his second game of the season on Jan. 2 - after missing 33 straight contests to begin the 2014-15 campaign - and has been out ever since.

Consider head coach Derek Fisher - who said he'll bring Bargnani off the bench - among those happy to get the 7-footer back. 

"He's a pretty fantastic player," Fisher said, according to Al Iannazzone of Newsday. "His potential, I think excites us."

Fisher's comments are perplexing. While Bargnani is skilled, he's been a colossal failure in New York, and his tenure with the Toronto Raptors didn't end well, either. Bargnani has value as a stretch four who can convert from long range, but he hasn't shown that ability since early in his career.

The former No. 1 overall pick hasn't shot above 31 percent from deep since the 2010-11 season when he averaged a career-high 21.4 points.

New York is reportedly attempting to reach an agreement on a buyout with Bargnani, who's owed $12 million in the final season of a five-year deal he inked in 2009.