The Dallas Mavericks signed free agent guard Jose Juan Barea. Earlier today, the team waived talented young guard Gal Mekel in order to clear a roster spot to bring Barea back to Dallas.

Barea (6-0, 185) spent the first five years of his professional career in Dallas and was a member of the the Mavericks 2011 NBA Championship team. He averaged 9.5 points, 3.9 assists and 20.6 minutes during the 2010-11 campaign while helping Dallas capture its first NBA title.

The former Maverick played 315 games in a Dallas jersey averaging 7.1 points and 2.9 assists. Barea also saw action in the NBA Playoffs each of his five seasons in Dallas, accruing averages of 7.7 points and 3.0 points in 40 postseason games (7 starts).

The eight-year veteran spent the past three seasons in Minnesota after signing with the Timberwolves as a free agent in the summer of 2011. He holds career averages of 8.3 points, 3.4 assists and 19.0 minutes in 509 career games (59 starts) while shooting .419 from the floor and .798 from the foul line.

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 and, as a senior, averaged 21.0 points, 8.4 assists and 4.4 rebounds for the Huskies.

Barea will wear number 5.

The Mavs have a talented roster this season and should be competitive in a loaded Western conference. Built around Dirk Nowitzki, Monta Ellis and Chandler Parsons, with support from Tyson Chandler, Jameer Nelson and Devin Harris, the Mavs are looking to win as immediately as possible while the legendary Nowitzki remains able to play at a high level.