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A source close to free agent guard J.J. Barea said Saturday that the Knicks and Timberwolves are both in pursuit of the 27-year-old, who starred in the postseason last spring during the Mavericks’ run to the NBA title.
The Knicks, according to the source, offered Barea a two-year deal. By using the amnesty provision on Saturday to waive guard Chauncey Billups and dealing forward Ronny Turiaf to Washington as part of the three-team deal that sent Tyson Chandler to New York, the Knicks technically fell under the cap, and thus lost their ability to use the mid-level exception starting at $5 million. They could use the new “room” exception for teams that are below the tax threshold that starts at $2.5 million.
Minnesota has not made a specific offer to Barea, though they are talking about contract parameters that would be in excess of the “room” amount, the source said. The Timberwolves could be looking for a mentor for their high-profile rookie guard Ricky Rubio, who finally came over to the NBA after starring in Europe as a teenager. Rubio was taken fifth overall by the Wolves in 2009 but remained in Europe until this summer.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks, keeping with their desire to maximize their cap space for the summer of 2012, have only offered Barea a one-year deal, the source said. That decision left Barea feeling “betrayed,” the source said.
Barea, who had become a key contributor for Dallas the past few seasons, was outstanding in the playoffs for the Mavericks, averaging 8.9 points and 3.4 assists in 18.6 minutes per game in the postseason. He shot almost 42 percent from behind the three-point line, and his 22-point, eight-assist effort in the clinching game over the Lakers in the second round so frustrated L.A.’s Andrew Bynum that Bynum cheap-shotted Barea in the closing minutes of the Mavericks’ Game 4 rout, earning an ejection and five-game suspension at the beginning of this season.
After waiving Billups, the Knicks clearly need help at the point. Their current starter is second-year guard Toney Douglas, though first-round pick Iman Shumpert could see some time there as well this season. And Barea would be an ideal distributor in Mike D’Antoni‘s high-octane offensive attack.
barea is a good fit for newyork!! but they need a backup center and a 2 guard.. i thnk jrich is good fit!! get it done
jrich re-signed with Orlando….
MANNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DID ANYONE CHECKOUT THE MAVS ADDTIONS UNDER THE RADAR??????? VINCE CARTER AND LAMAR ODOM .. WOW WHAT WILL RICK CARLISLE AND CUBAN THINK OF NEXT??????????? I KNOW KOBE IS PISSEDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD OFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH SORRY LAKERS
Why in the world would you give up Billups for Barea? Heard rumors that Chauncy is looking to go to Miami. Sweet!
Because Billups is due to make 14 million, and they offer Barera the ‘room’ cap, What is that $2mill? I guess with the new luxuray tax 3 to 1 on the dollar is looking steep. Plus Billups is getting old, not quick enough to stay infront of Rose or Paul.
because billups was due to make over 14 million and they needed to make room for tyson.
Waiving Billups gave the necessary cap space to sign Chandler and to potentially sign someone else. Barea would be an interesting choice, and I think he has the potential to start after being tucked in on the bench under Kidd’s guidance for years. Not only start, but be a great force, and in D’Antoni’s system, I think that would be very great. Barea and Chandler both have experience with each other, notably in the NBA finals.
God would that hurt my heart for those 2 to get stolen from my Mavs, but at least they would be on a great team in another conference.
IF billups land in miami, miami will be /1 for as long as he is there, they need someone who can defnce, shoot the open three and someone to help guid the young chalmers and the rook. Great fit for about 2 or 3 years and slowly give more minutes to chalmer instead of throwing him in there with startes minutes. that would have them just as deep as 85% of the teams in the leaque at the point position. San Antonio with Parker and now Ford, Suns with Nash and Brooks, Nets with Derron Williams and Farmar, Bulls with just Rose and any back up, and finnally there is the Hornets with Paul (If he stays) and Jack. I would say the Maverick with kidd and (that french kid), would be eaqual apponents. But all other teams they are set for now and the future at the point. People have to remember that Miami does not need a great point gaurd on the scoring side, they need defence and someone woh can hit the open three, and if I can remember Chalmers did that. Billups is clearly n upgrade (For now). Same with the center position, they need someone who can rebound block shots and finish arounf 2-3 feet around the baskit, can Eddy curry do that, I dont think so and think it was a bad move, but if he did loose 70 p;ounds like he said then maby his hops and speed have been upgraded, but well have to see. Why they did not go after DalembertÉÉÉÉ I dont know. GO HEAT AND MY FAVV PLAYER BOSH.
PS: Bosh will averag around 20 points and 10 reb with a block per game his year and mak yet another All STAR team.
NOT SO FAST HE ALSO SAID DALLAS LOOKS VERY TEMPTING… IF CHAUNCY COMES TO D-TOWN ITS DEF. MAVS REPEAT..
GET VINCE CARTER…. RASHEED WALLACE…
rasheed got retired, you’ve been living under a stone for a year?
lmfao!!
Yeah— Sheed is retired and Vince needs to… I’d take old man Grant Hill first
Yeah sheed is still under contract to the celtics so unless they do a trad that aint happening. Why so many people think that a players contract disappears as soon as they retire is beyond me, If that were the case Dwight & CP3 would retire now, then ocme out of retirement next week and sugn for a different team
Barea should go to the heat
yes, the heat would be an ideal spot for him…..he just happens to live in south florida.
Lakers need him. Bynum and JJ…Only in LA LA land
Nice Dallas. way to give up key players Chandler who is your defense and Barea who gave alot of team headaches coz even the backcourt of the lakers and miami cant stop you. After giving their heart and soul last season helping the team greatly win the championship now giving them cheap contracts. For Chandler good thing you come to the Knicks they will be a contender just one point guard away. and for Barea. Go to Miami and prove to Cuban he made a mistake. And to the owner Cuban, enjoy the championship ryt now coz thats the last for your team.
Dude, Even without JJ or Chandler, we the Mavericks can still choke any team on NBA. Watch my lips and see you during game five NBA finals. We will beat Miami again and repeat the Champonship.
Haha! are u kidding yourself Boy? The reason the Mavs are in the finals in the first place is because of Chandler. What are the mavericks without Chandler prior last season? and watch your lips? i cant this is a blog so please think before you write something haha!
I would love to see a rematch but I doubt it happens. Oklahoma is taking the west this year.
and they get odom for supersub, i dont know if this work. me prefer the winning team. no one interest dynasty model in nba, squad changes every season even the champion… i miss 90s nba
Give me a break! barea shouldn’t be in the League!
Barea will end up going to the Knicks, But in all honesty they need to sign a few more knockdown shooters, and a backup sf/sg to sub for Melo because they have not re-signed Shawn Williams. In my opinion they need to re-sign him because he will play his natural 3 position, and he defends well. That is the ideal backup for Melo, at a low price, and it leaves room to go after another solid veteran Pg, and a Solid backup at The Sg position. Either way, Miami…IT IS NOT LOOKING TO GOOD FOR YALL LOL
i agree with your intelligence
Really!!! Ask Koby and Bynum.
Best situation for HEAT: get rid of j howard, dampier, bibby, and magloire. get billups and/or barea and a offensive center, but keep anthony for D
Hopefully JJ does end up in New York! His aggressiveness would attract so much defense and lead others open. I like when people talk trash but end up eating their words when he continues to improve. When are you going to learn that size doesn’t ALWAYS matter!
Chauncey Billups to Miami Heat! Thats the headline.
JJ should go to Miami, mainly because he proved to be able to give defenses fits when trying to contain him in last years playoffs. The Knicks are the ideal team for him, but given the disrespect the Mavs have shown towards him it’d be nice to see help the team he helped beat last year with a championship and stick it to Mark Cuban!
with barea leaving the mavs,it would leave the door open for them to pursue Billups..
Barea should go to LA although it would be weird for him and Bynum
JJ BAREA / MIKE BIBBY / TONY DOUGLAS
TYSON CHANDLER
AMARE STOUDEMIRE
LANDRY FIELDS
CARMELO ANTHONY
NBA CHAMPIONS 2011 – 2012
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA U MUST B JOKING…………….. OR YET SMOKING .. TYSON GONE BAREA GONE FROM MAVS BUT WITH THE ADDITION OF V. CARTER AND ODOM SORRY FOR YA… B SIDES YALL GOTT BEAT BOS, CHI, MIA, ATL, DONT LOOK GOOD FOR YALLLL
You wrote this about the Heat last year, didn’t you? A team is NOT just a list of names. Nobody proved it better than Dallas this spring.
If I remember correctly, Toney is in his third year.
Barea is not starting point guard material, a perfect back up though, which is why i think the better fit would be with the T-wolves. JJ coming up behind Rubio, granted rubio plays up to expectations then the two are a lethal force
new york is making a big move this offseason… watch out for them
If they think that Barrea is going to replace Chauncey they are kidding themselves!
Another plus for Barea, although not directly basketball related nor very important, is the cultural Puerto Rican demographic that exists in the melting pot that is New York. He would be embraced easily as he plays good in the system.
I am disappointed in the Mavericks. Right now I am not sure I would chear for them again unless they play Lakers and Heat again. Even though I love Jason Terry, there are no guarantees that the cheap Mark Cuban won’t turn his back on the Jet, too. He backstabbed a good young player like JJ and didnot want to commit longterm to Tyson, the defensive anchor. Any reason for him to keep a veteran like The Jet?
As for J.J. Barea, You’ve won the Championship, man! Now, just go out there with a clear conscience and earn all the money You deserve!
And why not the Lakers? He would be a great fit, there. As for the nasty incident last summer: Barea and Bynum are both professionals, they could put it behind them.
knicks should tried to get baron davis and iam shumpert can be a good back up for him and and landry fields plus they can save some money for 2012 free agents and they might get cp3 as well if they dont use all the cap.
We need to sign Jamal Crawford Again ! All We Need is A SG , Knicks Are Back Baby !
I like how so many people say he should go to Miami! Miami should also get Howard and CP3! MAYBE then they could win a championship!!! Probably not though. Dirk did it without having 8 other “superstars” on the roster! Mavs made Barea and Chandler what they are!
Barea definitely would be an excellent acquisition for the Knicks, also it would be interesting too including a pact with Carlos Arroyo, as they both play the same system, running the fast brake and better, keep filling the Latino fans at Madison Square Garden and would join the other Puerto Rican player Carmelo Anthony
Knicks need to find a way to get Nash on a 2 year deal. Matched with that front court and a coach that knows him. Knicks and Nash get their title.
Knicks are getting some depth oon their roster, uh-oh
HEY THE KNICKS NEED A FIRECRACKER! MR BAREA WILL NOT ONLY BE CONTRIBUTING BUT WILL LEAD THEM TO THE PLAYOFFS TRUST ME. HE WILL SUPPLY THAT RUN & GUN THEY NEED WOW IF THIS HAPPENS I WILL PURCHASE SEASON TICKETS I CANT EVEN AFFORD IM GOING CRAZY LOL PLEASE KNICKS PLEASE DONT LET THIS ONE SLIP AWAY!!!!!!!!
MAVS VS. HEAT REMATCH ………….. MAVS WIN IN 6 AGAIN
knicks suck
Barea in New York is an ideal situation for him. An offense that is suited for him and playing along Melo will take the Knicks deep into the playoffs with Amare and Tyson dominating the paint. Knicks will make noise.
Can’t believe that the team you won a championship with is not adequate for another season. Saving money for speculation next season, don’t guarantee you’ll get anything. Tyson was, at least, in the top 5 center and you guys let him get away, because of the possibility of Dwight Howard next year. You guys keep saying you want a good group around Dirk. HELLO! you had one and now you are screwing it up. Maybe Dirk ought to leave; you guys certainly aren’t making him feel welcome. Let’s see, you let, Tyson and Caron go. and you may lose JJ. And you bring in big names like — Rudy Fernandez, Andy Rautins, Brandon Wright. Oh, sorry, Rudy, Andy, Brandon have got championship team written all over them.
Barea is a good pick
Knicks need to gra b this young man quick.. He will be a superstar in the NBA soon