#NBA Dallas Mavericks Champ J.J Barea Expresses Interest In the New York Knicks

Hornets All-Star point guard Chris Paul may be using his clout to get traded to the Big Apple, but maybe Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni and the franchise’s front office should consider a championship-caliber player who actually is a free agent. In comes J.J. Barea the breakout point for the champion Dallas Mavericks. Read more after the jump.


“I still haven’t signed with nobody,” J.J. Barea, who helped the Dallas Mavericks torch the Miami Heat for their first NBA title in June, told the Daily News Friday. “That’s still got me a little. … I just want to know where I’m going to be. That’s still my first option (signing with Dallas). I know other teams are interested. I just want to know where I’m going to be, but it’s a business.”

With that notion in mind, how would Barea feel about running the point with Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony?

“I always said the Knicks would be a great second option. I love the city. I love the way they’re playing now, their style of play with D’Antoni, the players over there,” said Barea, who was in Punta Cana to support slugger David Ortiz’s annual charity golf tournament. “We’ll see. I know Carmelo more than Amar’e. I think after (D’Antoni became coach), I said, ‘That would be a great fit for me.’”

Barea, who came off the bench for the Mavs last season, said he spent the summer playing golf, working out and “going crazy” waiting for the NBA lockout to end. He said he talked with agent Dan Fegan two days ago, and Fegan told the Puerto Rican-born Barea to be patient. That is proving difficult for the 5-9 sparkplug, who is never afraid to get hacked in the paint by players at least a foot taller.

“I just take it day-to-day,” Barea said. “David (Ortiz) gave me this invite, and it was awesome to come over here. Why not? Last weekend of the year for me without work? I come over here and have some fun.”