The 2014 NBA Free Agency Rumors & Predictions are filling out the last roster spots. Charlie Villanueva has been synonymous with the word overpaid since his hefty contract from the Detroit Pistons. It is one of the factors that cost GM Joe Dumars his job.

Now that the contract expired, no one was expected to pick up the Dominican Republic native. He was not only injured, he was also playing sub-par whenever he was on the court.

As he would relate, he is now fighting for a roster slot for the first time in his career. From the Star Telegram:

Now I've got to throw myself up, reinvent myself again. It's not a problem. I'm actually looking forward to the opportunity."

Villanueva has been signed by the Dallas Mavericks to a non-guaranteed contract during the summer.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban justifies his choice: "We're just going to pick the best players. I don't care what their contract is. I'm happy to [eat a contract]. I don't care."

Mavs head coach Rick Carlisle said: "He can score and he can shoot it, that's his gift, that's his skill. I'd like to see him do a better job defensively, particularly in the post where he got hurt, particularly late in the game. And I think he's capable of doing that. But he did some good things."

Prior to the Pistons, "Villanueva averaged 16.2 points and 6.7 rebounds in only 26.9 minutes while playing for Milwaukee in 2008-09."

Villanueva is grateful for the words of support but he understands it's up to him: "It's good to have guys like that [Cuban and Carlisle] on your back, on your side, but I can't get satisfied at all. I've got to keep grinding. I've got to keep working. I've got to keep getting better every day."

 "My mentality is here," Villanueva said.

Charlie Villanueva also considered the Los Angeles Clippers, who are also filling out their frontline with veterans for a possible deep playoff push, but he "felt a better vibe" with the Mavericks.