Category: Dallas Mavericks Blog

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Mavericks sign veteran guard Courtney Lee

The Dallas Mavericks have signed veteran guard Courtney Lee.

Lee, listed at 6-foot-5, 215 lbs., originally joined the Mavericks as part of the seven-player trade that brought Kristaps Porzingis, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Trey Burke to Dallas in January 2019.

The 35-year-old, 13-season veteran holds career averages of 9.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.0 steals and 27.1 minutes in 811 games (518 starts) with Orlando, New Jersey, Houston, Boston, Memphis, Charlotte, New York and Dallas. Last year, Lee averaged 4.5 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 14.4 minutes through 24 games (nine starts). Lee did not play in the NBA Restart due to a calf injury.

Lee played four seasons at Western Kentucky where, in 127 starts, he averaged 17.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.9 steals in 31.2 minutes. He was named First Team All-Sun Belt in each of his final three seasons (2005-08) and earned 2008 Sun Belt Player of the Year honors as a senior.

Lee, a native of Indianapolis, will join the team after clearing medical protocols.

Lee will wear No. 45.

Mavericks waive Jose Juan Barea

The Dallas Mavericks have waived guard Jose Juan Barea.

Per the Dallas Morning News, “Mavericks general manager Donnie Nelson on Thursday confirmed that the team will be releasing veteran guard Barea. ESPN on Wednesday reported the expected roster move. “A little bit of a sad day in Mavs-ville as we say goodbye to J.J. Barea,” Nelson told reporters via Zoom. “We’ve had an incredible, amazing ride with J.J. … He, in a lot of respects, has been the heart and soul of us for many, many years.”

Barea (5-10, 180) holds career averages of 8.9 points, 3.9 assists and 19.6 minutes in 831 games (107 starts) with Dallas and Minnesota. In an additional 50 playoff games (11 starts) for Dallas, Barea averaged 7.9 points, 2.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 19.7 minutes. The point guard helped the Mavericks to their first NBA title in 2011, appearing in 21 games throughout the run.

And per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, “the Mavericks re-signed Barea for one year and $2.6 million earlier this fall, but according to ESPN, Cuban was aware that the guard was going to be released and wanted to reward him for his 11 seasons with the team.”

Barea has played 11 of his 14 NBA seasons with the Mavericks. Among franchise leaders, he ranks fifth in games (637), seventh in 3-pointers made (596) and eighth in assists (2,441).

The Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, native went undrafted in the 2006 NBA Draft and was signed by Dallas as a rookie free agent on Aug. 17, 2006. Barea attended Northeastern University where, as a senior, he averaged 21.0 points, 8.4 assists and 4.4 rebounds for the Huskies.

Mavericks sign forward Wes Iwundu

The Dallas Mavericks have signed free agent forward Wes Iwundu.

Iwundu (6-6, 195) was selected by Orlando with the 33rd pick of the 2017 NBA Draft. In three seasons with the Magic, he averaged 4.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 17.6 minutes in 182 games (46 starts). Iwundu also made nine starts with the G League Lakeland Magic as a rookie, contributing 15.2 points and 8.4 rebounds in 35.3 minutes.

Iwundu, a Houston native, played four seasons with Kansas State (2013-17) and averaged 9.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists while setting a program record for games started (124). His 185 defensive rebounds in 2016-17 are the second most in program history. Iwundu was named Third Team All-Big 12 following his junior and senior seasons.

Iwundu would become the second K-State alumni to appear in a game for the Mavericks. Mavs legend Rolando Blackman, who currently serves as the organization’s VP of corporate relations, enjoyed a four-year career with the Wildcats (1977-81) before playing 11 of his 13 NBA seasons in Dallas.

Iwundu will wear No. 25.

Mavericks sign rookie forwards Freddie Gillespie and Devonte Patterson

The Dallas Mavericks have signed rookie free agent forwards Freddie Gillespie and Devonte Patterson.

The signings are likely non-guarantee deals that merely bring the two players to training camp.

Gillespie (6-9, 245) went undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft after finishing his college career at Baylor. Last season, as a senior, he was named the Big 12 Most Improved Player while garnering Second Team All-Big 12 and Big-12 All-Defensive Team accolades. Gillespie also became the first Baylor men’s basketball player to earn Big 12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors.

The former walk-on transfer led the Bears to a 26-4 record last season, including five weeks ranked as the nation’s No. 1 team, the longest streak by any program since 2015. He averaged 9.6 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.1 steals, 2.2 blocks and 28.4 minutes per game in 30 games (all starts) and ranked third in the Big 12 in both redounding and blocked shots.

Prior to playing at Baylor, Gillespie earned All-MIAC and All-MIAC Defensive Team honors for Division III Carleton College. The Saint Paul, Minnesota, native did not begin playing basketball until eighth grade and stood at 5-11 entering high school.

Gillespie will wear No. 32 for Dallas.

Patterson (6-7, 205) also went undrafted in 2020 after finishing his college career at Prairie View A&M, where he helped the Panthers to back-to-back regular season titles and undefeated record at home in his two seasons with the program (2019, 2020). Last season, as a senior, he averaged 15.8 points (.465 FG%), 6.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 28.8 minutes in 24 games (19 starts) en route to garnering SWAC Player of the Year honors.

The Bridgeport, Texas, native played his first two collegiate seasons at Ranger College (NJCAA) before transferring to Prairie View A&M. He led Bridgeport High School to the UIL Class 4A state championship in 2015.

Patterson will wear No. 23 for the Mavericks.

The Mavericks’ 20-man training camp roster is now complete.

Mavericks re-sign guard Trey Burke

The Dallas Mavericks have re-signed guard Trey Burke.

Per multiple reports, Burke’s contract with the Mavs is a three-year, $10 million deal.

Burke (6-0, 185) returned for his second stint with the Mavs in 2019-20 after signing as a substitute player on July 1, 2020, prior to the league’s restart at the Disney bubble in Orlando. Burke stepped up in the bubble, playing in all eight (one start) of the team’s seeding games, averaging 12.0 points, 3.8 assists and 1.1 steals in 23.9 minutes per game.

Burke also appeared in all six (three starts) of Dallas’ first round playoff games against the L.A. Clippers, averaging 12.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 steals in 26.0 minutes.

Per the Dallas Morning News, “Burke was late to join the Mavericks in the bubble because he tested positive for COVID-19 just after signing his temporary contract this summer and had to quarantine for 25 days in a Dallas hotel.”

The seven-year veteran holds career averages of 10.6 points, 2.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 23.0 minutes in 394 games (129 starts) with Utah, Washington, New York, Dallas and Philadelphia. He has compiled averages of 10.3 points, 2.9 assists and 19.0 minutes in 33 regular season games (two starts) with the Mavericks.

Burke was originally acquired by the Mavericks in the seven-player trade that brought Kristaps Porzingis, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Courtney Lee to Dallas on Jan. 31, 2019. After playing in 25 games for Dallas over the second half of the 2018-19 season, Burke signed with Philadelphia as a free agent on July 30, 2019. He appeared in 25 games for the Sixers in 2019-20, before being waived on Feb. 6 and subsequently signing with Dallas.

Burke was an early entry candidate for the 2013 NBA Draft after his sophomore season at Michigan. He was selected ninth overall by Minnesota before having his draft rights traded to Utah for the 14th and 21st picks.

The Columbus, Ohio, native was named the National College Player of the Year, a consensus First Team All-American and the Bob Cousy Award winner as a sophomore while helping the Wolverines reach the national championship game in 2013.

After wearing No. 23 with Dallas in 2018-19 and No. 32 for the Mavericks in the bubble, Burke will don No. 3 for the club in 2020-21.

Mavericks re-sign Jose Juan Barea

Once again, Jose Juan Barea is back on the Dallas Mavericks.

The Mavs re-signed 5-foot-10, 180-pound Barea today. The guard has now spent 11 of his 14 NBA seasons with Dallas.

Barea’s NBA career average is 8.9 points, 3.9 assists and 19.6 minutes in 831 games (107 starts) with Dallas and Minnesota.

In 50 playoff games (11 starts) for Dallas, Barea averages 7.9 points, 2.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 19.7 minutes. The point guard helped the Mavericks to their first NBA title in 2011, appearing in 21 games throughout the run.

Among Mavs franchise leaders, Barea ranks fifth in games (637), seventh in 3-pointers made (596) and eighth in assists (2,441).

A native of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, Barea went undrafted in 2006, and was signed by Dallas as a rookie free agent on Aug. 17, 2006.

Barea attended Northeastern University where, as a senior, he averaged 21.0 points, 8.4 assists and 4.4 rebounds for the Huskies.

Mavericks sign rookie Josh Green

The Dallas Mavericks have signed first round pick Josh Green.

Green (6-6, 210) was selected 18th overall by Dallas in the 2020 NBA Draft following his freshman season at the University of Arizona. He started all 30 games in which he appeared for the Wildcats and averaged 12.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Green ranked sixth in the PAC-12 in steals last season.

The Sydney native led IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida) to the 2019 high school national championship while garnering McDonald’s All-American honors.

Green will wear No. 8 for Dallas.

Three-team NBA trade sends Trevor Ariza to Thunder, James Johnson to Mavericks

In a three-team trade today, the Dallas Mavericks have acquired forward James Johnson from the Oklahoma City Thunder. In the deal, the Mavericks sent guard Delon Wright to the Detroit Pistons and forward Justin Jackson to the Thunder. The Pistons dealt forward Trevor Ariza to Oklahoma City. The Thunder acquired a 2023 second round pick (best from either Dallas or Miami) and a 2026 second round draft pick from Dallas.

Ariza (6-8, 215) has appeared in 1,064 career games (731 starts) with New York, Orlando, L.A. Lakers, Houston, New Orleans, Washington, Phoenix, Sacramento and Portland, registering averages of 10.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.49 steals in 29.7 minutes per contest. Last season the former NBA champion split the season between Sacramento and Portland. In his time with Portland, the Miami native appeared in 21 games (all starts) and averaged 11.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.62 steals in 33.4 minutes per game, shooting 49.1 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from three-point range.

Jackson (6-7, 220) has seen action in 214 career games (58 starts) with Sacramento and Dallas, recording averages of 6.5 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.0 assist in 19.5 minutes per game, shooting 43.1 percent from the floor. Last season with Dallas, the North Carolina product appeared in 65 games (three starts), averaging 5.5 points and 2.4 rebounds in 16.1 minutes per contest, shooting 84.0 percent from the free throw line.

Johnson has appeared in 634 career games (220 starts) with Chicago, Toronto, Sacramento, Memphis, Miami and Minnesota, averaging 8.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 20.6 minutes per game, shooting 47.7 percent from the field. He was originally acquired from Minnesota on Nov. 20.

Mavericks will reportedly hire Zach Guthrie as assistant coach

While the league prepares for the draft and a free agent frenzy like no other, coaching job news continues to roll out. Here’s the Desert News:

The shuffle on the Utah Jazz’s bench is reportedly continuing.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Sunday morning that assistant coach Zach Guthrie is leaving to take an assistant role with the Dallas Mavericks. It would mark the fifth assistant coach transaction involving the Jazz this offseason, as Johnnie Bryant left for the New York Knicks, while Utah has hired Dell Demps, Keyon Dooling and Sergi Oliva.

Both the Mavs and Jazz made the playoffs this past season, and both should contend to do so in 2020-21.

With help from Mark Cuban, Delonte West begins rehab

Former NBA player Delonte West has spent years majorly struggling with serious problems off the court. But finally, there’s good news. Here’s Boston.com reporting:

Former Celtics guard Delonte West is taking the first steps toward rehabbing his life.

In a tweet on Friday, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban shared an image of West — who has struggled with bipolar disorder, homelessness, and substance abuse — smiling while riding a horse.

“Ladies & Gentlemen, I present to you, Delonte West,” Cuban wrote.

Cuban wanted to add that while West is off to a good start, the journey is far from complete.

“A long, long, long way to go, but he has taken the first steps and shared these with all of us as a thank you for the love and support.”

Definitely click that link atop this entry for more on West, and what Mark Cuban did to help.

Hopefully, West stays on a positive path. We’re rooting for him.