Jose Barea signs a four year deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves - NBA Update
Free agent point guard Jose Barea has signed a contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Barea had played for the last 5 years with NBA World Champions the Dallas Mavericks, but they did not offer him terms beyond the summer of
2012.
Barea played an important role for the Dallas Mavericks in their NBA World Championship winning campaign last season. Playing primarily from the bench, Barea managed to positively affect the outcomes of many games that were in
the balance. His speed and energy gave the Mavericks an added advantage and often complemented the guile and calm of veteran point guard Jason Kidd.
Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said he wanted to keep the player but had to accept the financial realities at the franchise. He wished Barea well for his future and said he deserved the acclaim he was getting at the moment.
"I'm happy that he's able to experience that kind of a payday because what he did here the last three years has earned him that," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "And he'll be a terrific player for the Timberwolves.”
Carlisle said that Barea had many qualities that would greatly help the Timberwolves in the future.
"Not only is he a really good basketball player, but he's got a great team vibe and he's a great chemistry player, too. The kind of intangibles he has will be something that will really help the development of their younger guys."
Barea had interest from a number of teams, including the New York Knicks who have signed his fellow Dallas Mavericks free agent Tyson Chandler. In the end though the Timberwolves were able to offer him the best terms and Barea
signed a $19 million deal worth 4 years.
The Timberwolves believe he can provide them with some much needed experience, having just won the NBA World Championship with the Mavericks as well as being an alternative and mentor to highly rated young point guard Ricky Rubio.
Barea wasn’t available for comment after signing the deal but had indicated earlier that he wasn’t happy with the management at the Dallas Mavericks. Barea had expected to remain a part of the Mavericks for a considerable time
in the future but Dallas’s insistence on offering just 1-year contracts in order to save salary cap room for the summer of 2012 forced him to move on.
"We don't understand what's going on with the management here in Dallas," Barea said. "I don't know what their plans (are). Their plan is not to bring me back, not to bring Tyson back, so we'll see what happens."
The Mavericks have been unable to hang on to Barea, Tyson Chandler and small forward Caron Butler, who have all signed free agent contracts elsewhere.
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