Mavericks sign J.J. Barea, release Gal Mekel

As the Dallas Mavericks look to repeat their unlikely 2011 championship, they've re-acquired one of the core pieces from that team.

After being released by the Minnesota Timberwolves through a buyout on Monday, J.J. Barea has signed back with the Mavericks on a minimum deal. To make room for Barea, the Mavericks have released Gal Mekel, according to Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas.

Barea used his previous tour of duty in Dallas to cash in, signing a four-year, $18-million deal with Minnesota following the 2010-11 season. Barea had played five seasons with the Mavericks, peaking with averages of 9.5 points and 3.9 assists in the team's championship season.

Through three years in Minnesota, Barea has remained solid, and his buyout was more a result of the team going in a different direction than any lost utility on Barea's part. Last year, the 30-year-old averaged 8.4 points and 3.8 assists in just 18.6 minutes, and should stand as an offensive spark in a very deep Dallas backcourt.

In releasing Mekel, the Mavericks pull the plug on a one-year experiment with the Israel native. Mekel signed a three-year minimum deal with Dallas ahead of last season, splitting time between the NBA and D-League. In 31 games with the parent club, he averaged 2.4 points and two assists in 9.4 minutes but shot woefully from the floor.

It's unclear if Mekel will try his hand in the D-League or return to Europe, where he most recently played for Maccabi Haifa. Mekel is said to have been playing on a guaranteed contract, so he'll still be paid the remaining $1.76 million on his deal over this season and next.