DECEMBER 10: The Mavericks have officially waived Barea, the team announced in a press release.
Speaking to reporters earlier in the day, general manager Donnie Nelson called it a “sad day in Mavs-ville,” referring to Barea as the longtime “heart and soul” of the club (Twitter link via Callie Caplan of The Dallas Morning News).
DECEMBER 9: Long-time Mavericks reserve point guard J.J. Barea will be waived by Dallas tomorrow, sources tell Tim MacMahon of ESPN.
MacMahon reports that team owner Marc Cuban was aware the Mavericks would most likely release Barea after inking him to a one-year, $2.56MM veteran’s minimum contract last month, but desired to extend him an offer as a reward for the 5’10” Barea’s 11-year tenure with Dallas.
The 36-year-old Barea will now look for a new home in the league, per MacMahon. MacMahon also notes that Cuban hopes to find an organizational position for Barea once his playing career concludes. The Mavericks had 16 players on guaranteed contracts for their 15-man regular season roster, and waiving Barea made the most basketball sense, per Bobby Marks of ESPN (via Twitter).
Between the younger Jalen Brunson and Trey Burke, the Mavericks clearly felt secure enough in their backup point guard rotation behind All-Star lead ball handler Luka Dončić. Just last week, Rick Carlisle cited Barea’s locker room leadership as the club’s motivation to bring him back.
Last season for Dallas, Barea averaged 7.7 PPG and 3.9 APG in 15.5 MPG across 29 regular-season games. The 2019/20 season marked Barea’s return from a torn Achilles tendon incurred in January 2019.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
(Re) Sign with the TWOLVES, smoke Kat/DLo in their next scrimmage, then retire and walk off into the sunset.
well i agree tho cuz the wolves prob need another shooting guard but im confused on why the mavs cutting him when he could be a reserve pg in case brunson or tburke gets injured
Drafted Tyrell Terry and had 16 people under contract.
Lol
Cuban is an amazing human being, the NBA is so lucky to have him. True modern day pioneer
That’s a shame hopefully he can be added to the Coaching staff if he’s done playing
You two should get a room.
I assumed that THRD was being sarcastic about Cuban.
Nope! Although I do see the outlier in saying something positive about another human these days
Well Cuban allegedly did “turn a blind eye” to a misogynic culture in the Mavs FO, according to si.com and an internal investigation.
Entreprenuers still choose him on Shark Tank though, and he’s quick to be a truth-teller IMO.
“Amazing human being.” That says a lot more about you than Cuban.
I think Barrea could be third point guard option better than Try Burke who only is a offensive player not a natural point guard, so the Mavericks are in the wrong way since last year good luck.
Burke can dominate second units, a perfect sub for Doncic. He can build on the momentum Doncic builds. In the playoffs the dropoffs when Doncic left were blunted by Burke’s isos. True he’s not great at passing and is small.
I.like the Mav choices. The trades are solid, Richardson for Curry; and two seconds, Delon Wright & Justin Jackson for F James Johnson. They drafted three promising but not immediate perimeter players; kept the starters and Burke & Brunson.
The decision was between Berrea and Brunson. The PERs are about the same but on/offs were Berrea minus5, Brunson plus5… team success spoke!
Burke can score the ball – there’s a premium on that. He stepped into the bubble and was outstanding for them. Being settled and having a contract and training camp will be good for him too. And he’s got a great shooting coach ;)
Mavs are run really well from a player relation standpoint. Im surprised more free agents don’t go there but perhaps now they will with KP and Luka
Bucks should take him. They don’t have a good backup point anymore. JJ is a winner and his experience would help that team
Mavs need one more star and they would be true title contenders..someone like Bradley Beal would be perfect
Someone like Bradley Beal would be perfect on any team.
Only as a #2 guy on teams with an established true #1.
Except the Wizards of course.
Hey wait take a number! There’s enough Beal for everyone!
Most employers just give a gold watch after 25 years. A $2.5 million dollar retirement present seems better somehow.
He deserves all that and more for the way he locked down Bron in the 2011 finals.
That achilles tendon injury and those years .. ahhhh, the years
All I remember most about him is the running floaters in the lane over Kobe in WC Finals.
Veterans min with the Wolves???????
Milwaukee!!!
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
He should sign with a Spanish Team playing Euroleague