J.J. Barea Injury: Updates on Mavericks PG's Recovery from Knee Surgery

Dallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea underwent surgery to repair a medial meniscus tear in his right knee, the team announced Thursday. 

Continue for updates.

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Barea Out a Month After Knee Surgery 

Earl K. Sneed of Mavs.com passed along the information. The surgery had been expected since the Mavericks were eliminated from the playoffs, and Barea is expected to need a month of recovery time, per Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News.

Barea, 31, averaged 10.9 points and 4.1 assists per game in 2015-16. He appeared in four of the five games in Dallas' first-round loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The injury shouldn't have any bearing on Barea's offseason. He should be fully healed in plenty of time before training camp opens at the end of September. The possibility of recurrence might be an issue, but that depends more on whether Barea had the torn part of his meniscus removed or repaired.

Meniscus repairs are historically prone to reinjury. Between one-fourth and one-third of meniscus repairs ultimately end in another surgery, per Sam Smith of NBA.com. Removals are generally easier.

Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com reported Barea was hoping to play with Puerto Rico's national team over the summer, so it's possible he went with the shorter route. Given his advanced age and his long-term contract with the Mavericks—he's locked up for three more seasons—that's probably the logical play.

Barea is coming off arguably the best season of his NBA career and should look to build on that as much as he can over the summer.