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Denver Nuggets: Why Will Barton won’t start at small forward

By Grayson Moore

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 11: Will Barton #5 of the Denver Nuggets reacts during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 11, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 112-106. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 11: Will Barton #5 of the Denver Nuggets reacts during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 11, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 112-106. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 13: Isaiah Thomas #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers gets around Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets on March 13, 2018, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 13: Isaiah Thomas #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers gets around Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets on March 13, 2018, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) /

Reason #2: The Isaiah Thomas Factor

I think that it’s pretty clear that Isaiah Thomas is a better player than Will Barton when he is healthy.

The former Celtic has been an All-Star twice, been a member of the All-NBA Second Team, and placed 5th in MVP voting. Will Barton’s only accomplishment in the NBA according to Basketball-Reference’s Leader boards, Awards, Honors page is tying for 1st in the 2015-16 NBA season for games played(82). That’s not anything against Will Barton, just a compliment to Isaiah Thomas.

So, if Thomas performed at even half the level of his MVP-candidate season this year, the Nuggets really wouldn’t have a choice to move him into the starting lineup. It would be a pretty natural fit, too.

Jamal Murray, while he performed well at the PG spot last year, is not a point guard. He is a more natural fit at the shooting guard position where he can focus on what he does best: shooting. As I mentioned above, Gary Harris is already a better fit than Barton at the small forward position, so he would have no trouble moving to the 3. The front court of Paul Millsap and Nikola Jokic would remain the same.

Plus, it would allow Barton to go back to his best role as a sixth man. He was a borderline Sixth Man of the Year candidate last year and his athleticism and bursts of energy are just better suited to come off the bench. While the defensive back court of Thomas and Murray would be, at best, unfortunate, Barton isn’t an incredible defender himself. Plus, those 2 would be putting up so many points in this scenario, it wouldn’t matter how many points they allowed on the defensive end.

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If Isaiah Thomas comes back from his hip injury firing, the Nuggets would really have no choice but to promote him to the starting lineup for Barton. And that wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.

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