J.J.

Barea

Barea last played for the Mavericks in 2020 before playing out the last two seasons in his native country of Puerto Rico. “I’m ready,” Barea said. Last year it worked my head and I wasn’t ready. This year yes and I am calm about finishing.” Barea played 11 seasons with the Mavericks from 2006-2011 and then from 2014-2020 with a three year stint with the Timberwolves from 2011-2014. He will finish with career averages of 8.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. Barea said that he would like to take a break from basketball before getting back involved, so don’t be surprised if he pops up on a sideline in the future.

Barea last played for the Mavericks in 2020, before playing this season in his native country of Puerto Rico. Terry is currently an assistant coach at his alma mater, Arizona University. Both Terry and Barea were teammates of Kidd in 2011 when the Mavericks won their only championship in franchise history. With Maverick legend, Dirk Nowitzki, in a special advisor role with the franchise, and another former Maverick Michael Finley in the front office, there is a family affair in Dallas, that looks to be growing by the day.

Stein adds that Barea “has been determined to keep playing in the NBA ... and could have a chance to catch on with an NBA team before the playoffs begin May 18 with Estudiantes’ season potentially ending before that.”

Lee isn’t likely to make the final roster, but team owner Mark Cuban has rewarded both Lee and outgoing guard Barea with non-guaranteed camp deals. It’s a classy gesture from the Mavs organization.

Barea returned from a torn Achilles last year but played a sporadic role, averaging 7.7 points on 41.1% shooting in 29 appearances. He hopes to earn an NBA roster spot this year, but it remains to be seen how much interest the 36-year-old guard can draw as a free agent.

The Mavs were always expected to bring back the veteran and Shams Charania of The Athletic notes that it is a guaranteed deal. Barea has lost a step and may not be a consistent part of the rotation as the Mavs have Jalen Brunson, Tyrell Terry and Trey Burke behind Luka Doncic.

Joining Burke in the starting unit for today’s game will be Luka Doncic, Tim Hardaway Jr., Dorian Finney-Smith and Kristaps Porzingis. Boban Marjanovic had a nice game in a spot-start sans KP on Monday, but his minutes could be scarce today with the main guys back.

Doncic and KP were given the night off on Monday for the first leg of this back-to-back, but they’ll be back in action today and should see their standard minutes. That should translate to J.J. Barea and Boban Marjanovic returning to the second unit.

Burke was initially announced as the starter sans Seth Curry (leg), but in a last-minute change, Rick Carlisle decided to go with J.J. Barea, who finished with one point, one rebound, one assist and one steal over 14 minutes. Burke had a phenomenal game in his first Bubble game, but he’s far too inconsistent (as is JJB) to trust on a nightly basis.

Barea is a 36-year-old guard with a surgically-repaired right Achilles tendon, yet he continues to find ways to positively impact games. He called his own number more often than not with the second unit tonight, finishing 5-of-13 from the field and 2-of-8 from deep, and it must be noted that Trey Burke didn’t play tonight. It remains to be seen if Burke enters the rotation, but either way it’s futile to guess which nights Barea will put up fantasy-relevant numbers.