Report: Mavericks agree to 1-year deal with Charlie Villanueva
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Nobody tell Mark Cuban the Dallas Mavericks have made another move.
The Mavs have agreed to a one-year contract with unrestricted free agent Charlie Villanueva, according to Marc Stein of ESPN. The deal is for the veteran minimum, which is $1.5 million for a player with Villanueva's service time.
Villanueva confirmed his return in a blog post Tuesday, revealing he also fielded a call from the Los Angeles Clippers. Compared to last offseason, when he had to fight an unlikely uphill battle to get a roster spot, Villanueva seems relieved at the ease of his summer this time around:
It has been a hectic year and so much can change in that year. A year ago, when free agency started, everyone was waiting on LeBron and I was coming off one of my worst seasons in my career, plus I was just about to turn 30 years of age and trying to figure out what my next move was going to be. At this same point last year, we launched "Crossroads" and it was a success ... I eventually made it to the Dallas roster. I made the Dallas Mavericks … meaning I was the walk on that had to prove himself.
...
It is mind boggling how much can actually happen in a year. I feel like, in a lot of ways, I am coming full circle. Things are more stable in my life. Good things are happening. I'm having another kid everybody. Yesss!
The marriage in Dallas turned out to be a good one, as the former No. 7 overall pick played his most meaningful minutes in several seasons. In 64 games, he averaged 6.3 points and 2.3 rebounds while knocking down 37.6 percent of his outside looks, an important consideration for the stretch-four role he primarily filled. He even played spot minutes as a de facto center, something that probably won't be asked of him with DeAndre Jordan in the fold.
He will, however, likely remain as the team's linear Connect Four champion, having reportedly taken the crown from the outbound Rajon Rondo in one of sport's truly great upsets.
Because of a salary cap wrinkle and the Mavericks owning Villanueva's one-year Bird rights, he'll be able to block any trade during the season.