Jose Juan Barea opens up on NBA lockout and its impact – Basketball News
Dallas Mavericks star point guard Jose Juan Barea is frustrated by the NBA lockout, but accepts that all the players can do right now is wait and hope for the best. The Mavs star has been busy playing for his national team at the
FIBA Americas championship and was disappointed to come back to a lockout that is still lingering on.
Barea was a real livewire for the Mavericks in last season. His performances were especially impressive in the Mavs playoffs run that culminated with an NBA World Championship, the first for the franchise and most of the players
on the roster.
However Barea faced disappointment with Puerto Rico when his side was dumped out of the tournament in the semi-finals by hosts and eventual winners Argentina. The player had thus been away from the NBA scene and has come to back
to sheer disappointment at the ongoing lockout.
It is particularly worrisome for the point guard because he is a free agent this summer. Given Barea’s barnstorming performances during the playoffs, the player is set to be offered bumper contracts in the free agency.
Barea though has to wait for that, and also to decide on where he is going to be playing next season, because of the lockout. Jose is, understandably, not impressed.
"It's definitely frustrating, but things happen," Barea said in a conversation with ESPN Dallas. "If the lockout wasn't here I'd have a contract already and I'd know where I was going. But, things happen and you just have to stay
positive with it and I'm staying ready."
The lockout is now in its third month and shows no sign of ending any time soon. After some momentum was built with two back to back meetings between NBA owners and players, last Tuesday’s meeting poured cold water on any optimism.
No new meetings have been planned since.
Barea said the best thing he can do in the situation is just bide his time. The player needs some rest anyway after a long season and then the campaign with his national team.
"I'm going to be patient and I hope that the NBA gets back on track," Barea said. "I need a little bit of rest. I feel a little bit mentally and physically tired from the tournament. “
He can go abroad to play basketball next season if the NBA season is cancelled. Many players have already signed and even more heads are being turned as time passes on. Barea too has considered it, but believes it is still too
early to make a decision.
“I will have the option (of playing in Spain), but I don't know if that's something I want to do yet."
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