Dallas Mavericks player profile: J.J. Barea

The Dallas Mavericks roster is getting closer and closer to being set. One player who will be back and doesn’t appear to be going anywhere any time soon is J.J. Barea. Here are some of the things we can expect from Barea in the upcoming season.

Occasionally when watching J.J. Barea over the last few years, I get flashbacks of his glory days during the NBA Championship run. The Dallas Mavericks were unstoppable in the 2011 playoffs and Barea was a big reason for the team’s success. However, now at the age of 34, JJ is no longer the threat he used to be.

The main reason for his decline is definitely injury history. We have seen some unfortunate injuries hamper the last few years of Barea’s career. Compound that with the fact that Barea has a significant size disadvantage and every thing else that slows him down is a big factor in his ability to be effective on the court.

Here are the high points and low points we can expect from JJ during the upcoming season:

Highs

Barea will still run Carlisle’s offense to perfection. No matter what else happens around him, JJ is built for Carlisle’s offense and it always looks good when he is on the floor. He is great in the pick and roll, works well with Dirk Nowitzki, and is a good scoring threat for the second unit which will need a bit of a punch this year.

Barea will also offer great leadership in the locker room. With championship experience and the knowledge that his glory days are coming to an end, Barea has stepped into a bit of a mentor role, which he will do well for Dennis Smith Jr., Luka Doncic and Jalen Brunson in the upcoming season. This is a great role for Barea.

Lows

Barea played in 69 games this last season and only 35 the year before. The chances of him putting together a healthy season this year are unlikely and it could leave the Mavs with a bit of a predicament. Although Barea isn’t a key cog to this team, his leadership and abilities will be vital to the team being able to compete this season.

As his age has gone up, Barea’s defense has gone down. He no longer is able to anchor in and take the beating required from the opposing point guards because his body just can’t take it. Because of that, his defense has dropped mightily and he is more of a liability on that side of the court going forward.

Next: NBA Rumors: Dallas Mavericks targeting Devin Harris

Overall, Barea will continue to be an important part of the Mavs team for another year. His effective years of basketball are coming to an end and the Mavericks will need to make a decision on what to do with him next summer. For now, though, we will get another year of entertaining basketball from the little Puerto Rican.