The Minnesota Timberwolves are close to reaching a four-year contract with unrestricted free agent J.J. Barea, reports David Aldridge of NBA.com. Barea, who has spent his entire five-year career with the Dallas Mavericks, averaged a career-high 9.5 points in 20 minutes per game last season.
Timberwolves To Sign J.J. Barea To Four-Year Deal, According To Report
A combo guard whose diminutive size forces him to largely play the point, Barea had a few nice postseason performances for Dallas in 2011. But overall, he shot poorly in the playoffs, just 41.9 percent from the floor and 32 percent on three-pointers. He did become a more dependable playmaker in 2011, working the pick-and-pop with Dirk Nowitzki cleanly. That could translate to Kevin Love in Minnesota.
The Timberwolves brought over once-heralded prospect Ricky Rubio to play the point this season, and Luke Ridnour -- signed in 2010 -- is the other incumbent point guard on the roster. The team is light at two-guard, so it's conceivable that new coach Rick Adelman could pair up two of his PGs at times.
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