The NBA is a business. We are told that all the time. When a trade takes place, every player involved will use the same cliché “it’s just another reminder of the business nature of the league”. It is a business, and the players are the assets.
One need look no further than what Alonzo Gee and Scotty Hopson have gone through this summer. The two started their summer as members of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and have since gone on a career roller coaster, being constantly flipped. Just this summer, both have been employed by the Charlotte Hornets, New Orleans Pelicans, Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings. Five teams in two months, and most likely another for each as both are expected to be waived by Sacramento.
For this reason, it’s up to General Managers to be vigilant as deals can take place at the drop of a hat. All it takes is for two sides to be motivated and a trade can take place, or a signing can go down.
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The majority of Cleveland fans are still clamoring for the team to add a back-up guard, and a rim protecting big. With several non-guaranteed contracts still on the roster, the team easily has the roster flexibility to to do just that, as long as the players are available.
One logical Cavalier’s target is rumored to soon become a free agent, as the Minnesota Timberwolves are expected to buyout the final year of Jose Barea‘s contract.
JJ Barea has been underwhelming since signing with the Timberwolves, as he has not lived up to the contract that he signed in 2011. The math is simple, Barea is not worth $4.5 million a year.
This type of situation gives a team like the Cavaliers a big advantage. After receiving such a large buyout, and not being worth much contractually, Barea is likely to sign a new contract for the league minimum. If that’s the case, then the opportunity to compete for a championship will likely be Barea’s biggest priority when deciding upon his new team, and the Cavaliers would easily fit into this category.
Barea would be able to split back-up point guard duties with Matthew Dellavedova, but would also be capable of playing some shooting guard beside Kyrie Irving. Ideally, Barea could fill the role that Cleveland hoped Jarrett Jack would excel in when signing him last summer.
JJ also averaged close to nine minutes per game last year while sharing the floor with Kevin Love. For a team that already features so many new faces, any on court familiarity should be seen as significant.
Throughout his career, Barea has shown himself to be an inconsistent contributor, something that make’s him a frustrating watch when his team is relying upon him; but when Barea gets going, his team usually gets hot too. Barea shot above 50 percent from the field 19 times last season, and Minnesota won 13 of those games.
All of this is speculation as the two sides have yet to be tied to one another. JJ Barea hasn’t even been bought out as of yet. But one thing is for certain, if he does become a free agent at any point this fall, the Cavaliers would be wise to take him into consideration.