J.J. Barea Reportedly Agrees to 2-Year Contract with Dallas Mavericks
A return to Dallas helped rejuvenate J.J. Barea's value around the league after three lost campaigns in Minnesota, but the point guard won't be leaving the Mavericks this time around, as he's agreed to a deal to remain with the franchise.
Barea told El Nuevo Dia he is going to remain with the Mavericks, via Ken Berger of CBS Sports, with David Aldridge of NBA.com reporting the point guard signed a two year, $5.6 million deal. On July 5, Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News reported the Mavericks were "very optimistic" about landing Barea. Originally, Barea was looking for a three-year deal, according to Aldridge on July 3.
The shift toward a return to Dallas came after a July 1 report from Aldridge, who reported Barea was "leaning toward" taking a deal with the Miami Heat. Tim MacMahon of ESPN reported on June 29 the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers were also interested in signing Barea.
He came to the Mavericks last offseason on a veteran's minimum deal after reaching a buyout with the Timberwolves. Reinvigorated by his Dallas return, Barea averaged 7.5 points and 3.4 assists per game while acting as a spark plug off the bench. The Mavericks offense was more than three points per 100 possessions better with Barea on the floor, per Basketball-Reference.com.
Having seen what life was like outside the Dallas cocoon once before, Barea said it would be "easier" to bring him back now than in 2011.
"I want to. I want to and hopefully this time we make it work," Barea told reporters of returning at his postseason exit interview. "I had a lot of fun this year. I enjoyed being back. It feels like home for me here in Dallas, so hopefully I can come back and finish my career here for the next couple years."
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