A third Dallas Mavericks free agent has left the building. Mark Stein has details on David Aldridge’s initial report that J.J. Barea will sign with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
ESPNSteinLine Marc Stein
Sources close to situation say J.J. Barea’s four-year deal with Timberwolves, first reported by @daldridgetnt, is valued at $19 million
Among their list of free agents, the Mavericks have lost also Tyson Chandler and Caron Butler, while Brian Cardinal will return on a one-year deal. DeShawn Stevenson is still on the market but likely won’t return to Dallas.
The Mavs balked at the length of contracts demanded by Chandler, Butler and Barea, as they signed five, three and four year deals, while Dallas wants to stick to two and under. Under that guideline they’ve managed to bring in Lamar Odom, Vince Carter, Rudy Fernandez and Brandan Wright. None of that group will cost significant money beyond 2012-13.
The exchange means that Dallas is deeper on the wings, but they haven’t found a roster replacement for Barea, and they haven’t added cover to help Brendan Haywood and Ian Mahinmi in the middle.