HoopsHype.com Rumors

The Timberwolves' Ricky Rubio, who says his surgically repaired left knee has recovered 100 percent, will play for Spain in the European Championship in September. Wolves guard J.J. Barea, who is signed for two more years, said he probably will play with the Puerto Rican national team, which will try to qualify for the World Championship at the end of the summer. St. Paul Pioneer Press

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Puerto Rico, Spain, World Championship, Jose Juan Barea, Eurobasket 

J.J. Barea's confrontation with Ray Allen got him ejected from Minnesota's game against Miami on Monday night. One day later, the NBA ruled that Barea never should have been ejected. Barea was encouraged by the correction, but it came a little too late for Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman. The NBA downgraded a flagrant 2 on Barea to a flagrant 1 on Tuesday, meaning Barea will not face a fine or suspension for his foul on Allen. "The NBA did a good job looking at it," Barea said after practice Tuesday. "It wasn't that bad. It's all right." ESPN.com

Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Ray Allen, Jose Juan Barea 

Miami Heat guard Ray Allen had simple words to describe the altercation between he and J.J. Barea during Monday night’s game. “It just came out nowhere,” Allen said. That was Allen’s explanation for Barea’s play. South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Ray Allen, Jose Juan Barea 

Allen and Barea got into a near skirmish in the Heat’s 97-81 victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves, a moment that surprised just about everyone. The mild-mannered Allen has rarely got into any type of altercation throughout his 17-year career. “It’s uncalled for,” Allen said. “I’ve managed to keep a level head throughout my career. You have your moments where things get heated. When you come down from it, you can say, `That was my fault. I was in a bad situation. I was really frustrated.’ But even in that situation, I wasn’t frustrated. It was just bad judgment, I thought from the other side.” South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Ray Allen, Jose Juan Barea 

Allen and Barea almost cleared the benches when they nearly got into it with 8 minutes, 9 seconds left in the game. Allen said he was responding to Barea tackling him on a drive. Barea claims he was retaliating to an elbow thrown by Allen earlier. “There was a play where he knocked the ball away and I got it back,” Allen said. “Then he just leveled me. I thought it was uncalled for. There is no place for that in the game." Barea said, “He pushed off, hit me with an elbow close to the neck. Then I gave him a bump back ... I've been playing in the NBA for seven years. I get hit harder than that every night. I don't get up crying. I want to fight." South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Ray Allen, Jose Juan Barea 

Jerry Zgoda: JJ seemed completely mystified, basically called Allen a baby for reacting to what called a "little bump." "Worse hits happen every day" Twitter @JerryZgoda

Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Ray Allen, Jose Juan Barea 

Ken Berger: In Minnesota, J.J. Barea is indeed available, as are Luke Ridnour and Derrick Williams, sources say. Twitter @KBergCBS

Minnesota Timberwolves, Trade, Luke Ridnour, Jose Juan Barea, Derrick Williams 

Jerry Zgoda: JJ says he'll meet with Kahn this afternoon to discuss what, if anything, he can do about that $5K fine for flopping Twitter @JerryZgoda

Minnesota Timberwolves, Jose Juan Barea 

Jeff Zillgitt: NBA fines MIN G J.J. Barea $5,000 for his second flopping violation. Happened Jan. 14 vs. DAL. Third player to receive a flopping fine. Twitter @JeffZillgitt

Minnesota Timberwolves, Jose Juan Barea, Flopping 

Mavs owner Mark Cuban has nothing but appreciation for Barea, saying he feels a "special connection" with the fiery, undersized point guard he signed as an undrafted free agent out of "Never, Never Land," aka Northeastern University. Barea spent his first five NBA seasons with the Mavs, carving out a significant role in the last few seasons. "I know he wanted to stay," Cuban said. "Look, I'm disappointed, too. I didn't make up the rules. I'm just trying to figure them out." ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Free Agency, Mark Cuban, Jose Juan Barea 

Darnell Mayberry: Everybody knows Barea flops. But KD was saying it jokingly. "If you look at J.J., you just admire his story coming from a small school." Twitter @DarnellMayberry

San Antonio Spurs, Kevin Durant, Jose Juan Barea 

Other names that dribbled out this week as likely candidates to be dealt this trade season include Milwaukee's expiring-contract backcourt duo of Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings, based on the premise that the Bucks, if they start drifting out of playoff contention, won't want to risk losing their smallish scorers for nothing in free agency. Also mentioned frequently is the Minnesota trio of Derrick Williams, Luke Ridnour and J.J. Barea, given that Wolves coach Rick Adelman appears to have no use for Williams and with the Wolves now boasting a surplus of point guards with Ricky Rubio poised to return from his knee tear. ESPN.com

Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Trade, Monta Ellis, Brandon Jennings, Luke Ridnour, Jose Juan Barea, Derrick Williams 

More and more, Barea is starting to look like he did in Dallas, the player good enough to earn a four-year contract before last season. It didn't happen enough during last year's lockout-shortened season, as a litany of injuries kept Barea from finding a rhythm. In all, he missed 25 of 66 games. It wasn't until late in the season -- when injuries to others pushed him into the starting lineup for the final 11 games -- that Barea really found his stride. "Last season I had back luck with it," Barea said. "I didn't get myself ready for the season. It was a short season, so it was really up and down. But I finished that season strong, and I was prepared for this season. I had that little setback with my foot, but my body feels great. Finally, I'm getting in a good rhythm here lately. Hopefully, I'll keep it going." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Jose Juan Barea 

"He has a swagger to him," Kevin Love said. "He's not going to back down from anybody. I don't know if it's because of his size or his mental makeup. But he brings a fire to our team." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Jose Juan Barea 

The banged-up Minnesota Timberwolves aren't getting any reinforcements for their game against the Charlotte Bobcats. Center Nikola Pekovic, shooting guard Brandon Roy and point guard J.J. Barea all were scratched for the game on Wednesday with injuries, leaving the Wolves with just nine healthy players. ESPN.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic, Injuries, Brandon Roy, Jose Juan Barea 

The Wolves are still expected to be busy before February's trade deadline. Williams and guards Luke Ridnour and J.J. Barea are the names cited most by the sources. 1500ESPN.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Trade, Luke Ridnour, Jose Juan Barea 

Former Miss Universe Zuleyka Rivera told Efe on Wednesday that she is happy on the personal level despite the rumors of her separation from basketball pro Juan Jose “JJ” Barea. “I’m happy. The important thing is that my son is healthy and that Jose Juan is healthy,” the 25-year-old Rivera said after being presented as the new media image of the Hotel San Juan. Hispanically Speaking News

Minnesota Timberwolves, Jose Juan Barea, Zuleyka Rivera 

Regarding her relationship with Barea, who plays for the NBA Minnesota Timberwolves, she said they are “working on it.” Rumors of a split between Rivera and Barea have been increasing for several weeks after the pair neglected to mention one another or publish photos of themselves together with their son on the social networks. Hispanically Speaking News

Minnesota Timberwolves, Jose Juan Barea, Zuleyka Rivera 

Joan Niesen: Rick Adelman on Barea's flop: “The play they’re talking about, the guy hit him in the face and got called for a foul. I don’t understand." Twitter @JoanNiesen

Minnesota Timberwolves, Jose Juan Barea, Rick Adelman 

The NBA announced via it's NBA Officials section that both Barea and Sloan have been warned for flopping. The first violation results in a warning, the second a $5,000 fine, the third a $10,000 fine, the fourth a $15,000 fine and the fifth a $30,000 fine with any subsequent violations possibly resulting in a suspension. CBSSports.com

Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Donald Sloan, Jose Juan Barea