Dallas guards Deron Williams and J.J. Barea recently underwent surgery to repair respective injuries suffered last season, the team announces (as reported by Earl Sneed of Mavs.com):
Per @MavsPR, J.J. Barea (right medial meniscus) had arthroscopic knee surgery. Deron Williams also had surgery for his sports hernia.
— Earl K. Sneed (@EarlKSneed) June 9, 2016
Deron Williams, 31, has been dealing with injuries for much of the last few seasons. This past Playoffs, he missed Game 3 against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to his sports hernia. Despite dealing with this injury and not being the All-Star guard he once used to be, Williams still had a solid campaign with Dallas this past year.
Appearing in 65 contests with the Mavericks last season, Williams averaged 14.1 points per game and shot 41% from the field. Last season, Williams had averaged 13 points per game on 39% shooting, to compare.
Deron Williams, set to opt-out and become an unrestricted free agent this summer, improved at the right time.
As for J.J. Barea, he’s been dealing with a torn right medial meniscus. Barea is expected to be sidelined one month as a result of the surgery. Much like Deron Williams, Barea had missed part of the first round series against the Thunder due to injury as well.
This season with the Mavericks, J.J. Barea turned heads with what could be his best NBA season yet. Appearing in 74 games with Dallas this past season, Barea averaged 10.9 points and shot 45% from the field.
Last summer, Barea chose to re-sign with the Mavericks over joining the Miami Heat. He’s been with the Mavericks for most of his career and was a part of the 2011 Championship team, as well.
Barea, a fan favorite, is set to return with the Mavericks next season, barring an unlikely off-season trade.
The Mavericks, who finished 42-40 this past season, now have to decide whether or not they want to re-sign Deron Williams. With free agency rapidly approaching, the team has just three weeks left before Williams begins meeting with other teams.
