Jose Juan Barea on top priority list of the Dallas Mavericks in free agency: NBA Update
Point guard Jose Juan Barea stunned everyone with his staggering performances against the Miami Heat in the 2011 National Basketball Association Finals. Although Mavericks reserve guard, who will be a free agent this summer, has
raised his stakes, however many still believe that Barea might struggle to fill the starting slot because of his low height and lack of defensive acumen.
However, his team Dallas Mavericks think otherwise.
The Mavs management is satisfied with him and the rest of the squad and has publically expressed its desire to continue with the same line-up in the next season.
Mavericks GM Donnie Nelson said, "Our plan is to get the same crew back and let's take another run at it. In an ideal world this team would come back and we'd make another run."
Along with Barea five other players’ contracts are expiring in the near future and it remains to be seen, whom Dallas will try to keep and whom they will let go.
However, Nelson said, "I love them all, they're all part of the family. So how do you separate your daughter from your son?"
This might be little difficult for the Mavs to retain all the six players, as the other franchises are also eyeing on these players and will be ready to spend huge amounts to acquire them, but it seems that Barea is interested
in staying with the Mavs.
As he said, "We can do it again. I know with the staff we've got, and I know (owner) Mark Cuban is going to put the pieces together to give us a chance."
Barea had played an important role in Dallas victory against Miami. Peja Stojakovic was struggling big time when Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle decided to replace him with DeShawn Stevenson and moved Barea up in the starting line-up
from the bench.
The move paid off as Barea scored 17 points together with five assists and two rebounds in game-5. During his 26 minutes stay on court, Barea shot .545 percent from the field and made four three pointers out of his five attempts.
Besides this Barea along with Jason terry helped Dallas bounce back in game-6 as they blew a 12-point lead in the first half. Barea made eight of his 15 points in the third period to lift the Mavs above the Heat and then thumped
six points for Dallas in the early minutes of the fourth frame.
Barea once again dominated the opposition from the field, as he shot 0.583 percent and also hit one three-pointer. Barea also clutched three rebounds and wracked five assists for the Mavs. The move proved to be the most key change
of the NBA finals. Barea’s speed changed the tempo of the Mavs game and, allowed them to go for extra fast break points.
It is believed that because of his dazzling performances Barea is on the top priority list of Dallas, whom the Mavs would love to retain for the next season. This means that his efforts haven’t gone to waste and he will be rewarded
for it.
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