JJ Barea ‘Very Good’ With Playing for the Dallas Mavericks Again


Though he says that he’s quite happy with his current situation in Minnesota, Timberwolves guard JJ Barea wouldn’t be mad if he ended up back in Dallas at some point in his career. Per ESPN: “During the 2010-11 season in Dallas, he played 81 games and averaged 20.6 minutes, 9.5 points and 3.9 assists. In Minnesota during the 2011/12 season, he played 41 games and on averaged tallied 25.2 minutes, 11.3 points and 7.7 assists. Last season in 74 games, he averaged 23.1 minutes, 11.3 points and 4.0 assists. When you suggest the possibility of going beyond the regular season in 2014, Barea perks up. It’s something he would like to do with the Timberwolves. In spite of this, Barea doesn’t close the door on the Mavs, who at the beginning of the summer sounded as if they were trying to once again retain his services. He has strong rapport with the Dallas owner. ‘It’s a great relationship with Mark Cuban. If they want to bring me back to Dallas, I am very [good] with it,’ he said. ‘But I’m happy in Minnesota. They’re the ones that wanted me there, the ones that signed me for four years, so until they decide to trade me, I’m going to give them all my effort in the games.’ Minnesota coach Rick Adelman’s pupils could be in the limelight this season, provided that last season’s woes don’t repeat themselves. ‘We have a great team,’ Barea said, citing Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love. ‘We also have Kevin Martin and new guys. Our problem is that we haven’t been able to maintain ourselves healthy. If we stay healthy, we see ourselves in the playoffs.'”