NBA News: J.J. Barea Released By The Minnesota Timberwolves, Puerto Rican Wants To Return To Dallas Mavericks

Minnesota Timberwolves back-up point guard J.J. Barea of Puerto Rico has agreed on a buyout deal with his current team and could be on his way back to the team that he won a NBA championship back in 2011.

Marc Stein of ESPN.COM was one of the first scribes who reported the buyout deal last Sunday and on Monday the writer confirmed the transaction making Barea a free agent on Monday.

Minnesota Timberwolves are today finalizing a buyout with veteran guard JJ Barea, say ESPN sources

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) October 26, 2014

Barea is on course to be waived by the Wolves as soon as today and, at the latest, before Monday's 5 PM roster cutdown deadline — Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) October 26, 2014

With Barea hitting free agency, the 6-foot guard now plans to move ahead and return to Dallas, where he enjoyed the best moments in his NBA career. However, the Timberwolves already have a full 15-man roster thus the need to cut or trade one player if they want to accommodate Barea. The Mavericks already have point guards Jameer Nelson, Raymond Felton, Devin Harris and Gal Mekel in their line-up.

The 30-year-old Puerto Rican was vital in Dallas’ championship run in 2011 when he scored 17 and 15 points in the Mavericks’ Game 5 and 6, respectively victories over the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals that got the franchise their first-ever NBA title. He averaged 10.3 points in three years with the Minnesota Timberwolves but has been criticised for his shoot-first approach from the point guard position.

Watch Barea with Dallas back in the 2011 NBA Finals:

(YouTube/kikeon)

Watch the diminutive point guard tear it up at the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain for Puerto Rico:

(YouTube/FIBA)

Barea averaged 22.0 points per game in the basketball world championships in Spain and if he returns to Dallas, Barea is expected to be a spark off the bench for the Texas franchise.