If the NBA labor struggle goes deep into the summer and appears headed into the fall, Dallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea said he might look to take his talents to Spain.
"I guess my plan B would be Spain, but I hope that does not happen," Barea said in a joint video chat Wednesday with El Nuevo Día and Primera Hora as his celebrity media tour throughout his home of Puerto Rico rolls on.
Barea went on to say that he doesn't think the league's owners and players will allow the situation to become that dire.
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Barea turned 27 on Sunday and life has never been better for the backup point guard. Although in his fifth season, Barea introduced himself to fans around the NBA with excellent postseason series against the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat in the NBA Finals.
Barea hits free agency Thursday night at 11 p.m. CT. He has reiterated his desire to remain in Dallas even though more lucrative offers could come from elsewhere. The Mavs might have no choice but to pony up to keep him considering they have no one beyond Barea to back up Jason Kidd, who should have his minutes limited even more by coach Rick Carlisle next season.
It just so happens that Barea listed the Lakers and Heat -- along with the New York Knicks -- as teams he would like to play for if things don't go as planned in negotiations with his first love -- the Mavs.
Nobody can have much confidence that Rodrigue Beaubois could slip into the backup point role after his recent second surgery on his left foot. The draft-night trade for Rudy Fernandez helps the backcourt but he's basically a 2-guard.
In the interview, Barea said he believes Sacramento, which traded Beno Udrih on draft night, is interested in signing him.
However, everything will have to wait assuming the league shuts down by the end of Thursday.
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