J.J. Barea’s Contract is Looking Really Good

Some questioned J.J. Barea‘s contract last summer, but with all of the money being handed out this summer, it’s looking a whole lot better.

Last summer, the Dallas Mavericks had arguably the worst offseason in the whole league after getting a verbal commitment from DeAndre Jordan, only to see him change his mind after the rest of the market had already signed elsewhere.

Dallas was left reeling as they upped their offer to Wesley Matthews to keep his commitment and traded a future second rounder for Zaza Pachulia. But they also chose to hand out a multi-year offer to one of their veterans and a player that was on their championship team in 2011.

After most of the dust had settled, Dallas signed J.J. Barea to a four-year, $16 million contract that would keep Barea in Dallas through the 2018-19 season.

Barea was 31 at the time he signed his contract, thus locking in the veteran guard to a contract that would take him to 35 years old; bringing much criticism from the fan base.

Many people across the NBA thought Dallas had overpaid for Barea by handing him four million annually over four years, but Dallas was thrilled with the contract in light of the looming cap spike.

Getting a quality backup point guard for four million a year was something they couldn’t pass up and it came to fruition during the season.

When Deron Williams went down late in the season during the playoff race, Barea stepped in immediately as the starting point and helped lead the Mavericks to six straight wins. He averaged 21 points a game on over 28 minutes a game during the stretch.

His penetration and scoring ability, combined with his knowledge of Carlisle’s system, provided Dallas the spark it needed to finish 6th in the Western Conference.

But what does his contract look like heading into this season?

With the first year of his four-year contract in the books, there are three years left at him making four million a year. So basically, let’s say that Barea signed a three-year, $12 million dollar contract this summer.

Where does that stack up to some other backup point guards who got paid this summer?

–E’Twaun Moore, in Chicago, averaged 7.5 ppg and 1.7 apg on 21 minutes a night. He signed a four-year, $34 million deal this summer.

–Austin Rivers, in Los Angeles, averaged 8 ppg and 1.5 apg on 22 minutes a night. He signed a three-year, $35 million deal this summer.

–Matthew Dellavedova, in Cleveland, averaged 7.5 ppg and 4 apg on 24 minutes a night. He signed a four-year, $38 million deal this summer.

–Tyler Johnson, in Miami, averaged 8 ppg and 2 mpg on 24 minutes a night. He signed a four-year, $50 million deal this summer.

Now let’s add J.J. Barea’s deal to this…

-J.J. Barea, in Dallas, averaged 10 ppg and 4 mpg on 24 minutes a night. He “signed” a three-year, $12 million deal “this” summer.

Think Barea’s contract is all that bad now?

For what Barea brings Dallas, I would much rather pay Barea $12 million over three years than Tyler Johnson $50 million over four years and it’s not even a debate for me.

Next: What Will Harrison Barnes Be in Two Years?

The Mavericks’ front office got slack last summer for handing out this deal to Barea, but with the contracts handed out this summer, combined with what Barea brings to the table, the front office knew what they were doing.

Barea is not just a fan favorite, but one of the best, cheaper backup point guards in the league.