September 12, 2018

Considering they traded their 2019 first-round draft pick to the Atlanta Hawks as a part of the move up to get Luka Doncic, and thus have no real incentive to win next season (unless they are accidentally poor or heavily injury riddled and thus need to tank again to fit within the top five protection), Dallas will not be pawning players off for the sake of it. It is in their best interests to provide a culture of stability and veteran assistance, both on and off the court, to aid the first stages of Doncic and Dennis Smith. And both Matthews and Barea could be that.

That said, they also have to reconcile the reality of where the rest of the roster is. Dallas lacks for core talents beyond them two and much youth of note, and have spent a lot of money to not get far in recent seasons. Should a reasonable opportunity to save money and gain a roster spot avail itself with these two, then, a buyout is foreseeable. It is not usual Dallas MO, but then, nor was the Doncic trade.

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June 29, 2018

J.J. Barea
PG - 6’0, 185lbs - 34 years old - 12 years of experience

As his career goes on, Barea incorporates the three-point stroke into his game more and more. He has always been, and still is, a sneaky little driving scorer and playmaker off the dribble, who has never needed athletic advantages to get by considering his skill and persistence. Yet as the league as a whole has demanded more threes, Barea has learned to adapt too. And in doing so, he may be extending a career that already looks as though it will never end.

In the same bench leader role he has been in for *checks notes* five decades now, Barea put up yet another good season of bench leadership, hustle and skill. As the Mavericks ran a bevvy of small guards around him, led by Dennis Smith Jr but also including Yogi Ferrell and Devin Harris, Barea kept his place on the team, because he was simply the best of the bunch.

Shooting well, driving aggressively and appearing in the majority of the most successful line-ups on the season, Barea was the team’s best guard, even if he had the lowest billing. Barea also made Dwight Powell look better this year. Powell is a picker and a roller, and Barea is a man who hits rollers.

Having done this for twelve years now, a thirteenth should be assumed. So should a fourteenth, and maybe a fifteenth. Barea has showed no signs of slowing down and, apart from the bit where he has to defend switches, fits in well with the new NBA. So let’s keep it rolling.

Player Plan: One year at $3,710,850 remaining. Extension eligible; maybe tie a couple more on and then look to get him to a playoff team. Barea helps here, yes, but he would help other teams more. Imagine him backing up Steph Curry, for example. That would be pretty ideal for Golden State, so charge a commensurate price. Their peak will not match up with Dallas’s peak anyway so no fears about helping a rival.

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June 29, 2017

J.J. Barea
PG, 6’0, 185lbs, 33 years old, 11 years of experience

Limited to 35 games due to injury, but the production he posted would have been a career year had he been able to play a full campaign. Still can score the ball and play some fairly heady point guard play, with the occasional big game still within him. A stabilising, steady influence, who always brings good energy, and who would be a very useful pick-up to any contending team. Not likely to have much trade value even in spite of that, yet should play out his team-favourable contract.

Player Plan: Two years at a combined $6.6 million remaining, which is a very good price for his services, which also may make him valuable. There is some value in keeping him as a one-club man, but let the market dictate that.

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