Denver Nuggets: Should the Nuggets Trade Will Barton?

Should the Denver Nuggets trade Will Barton?

The Denver Nuggets had an amazing 2018-19 season, however, the Nuggets need to make major changes in order to make it to the Western Conference Finals next year.

For the 2019-20 season, the Nuggets have $121,152,959 worth of contracts on their books. Even with if the Nuggets do not resign Paul Millsap, the Nuggets made have to make trades to get new players.

Will Barton’s contract for the Denver Nuggets extends to the 2011-22 season. Barton has a player option for the 2021-22 season. This gives Barton significant leverage heading into the 2021-22 season as he can force the Denver Nuggets to bring him back for the 2021-22 season.

So, should the Nuggets consider trading Will Barton? And if so, what should they try to get in return for him?

While Barton had some big moments in the 2019 playoffs,  he was not consistent off the bench. And Barton is not the best defender by any means. Barton only averaged 9.1 PPG  and 4.6 RPG in the 2019 playoffs. Moreover, his shooting was very poor and he shot only 27. 3% from three-point range. However, during the regular season he shot much better from the three-point line and was 34.2% from three-point range.

Barton had just 8 points in Denver’s Game 7 loss to Portland.

Barton is set to make $12,960,000 for the next 2019-20 season. There are many players around the NBA that could the Nuggets Barton’s production off the bench and for a much lower price. And Barton in the 2018-19 season showed that he is injury prone and he could miss a significant number of games in the 2019-20 season.

At the end of last season, Lou Williams signed a 3 year / $24,000,000 contract with the Los Angeles Clippers that extends to the 2020-21 season. This season, Lou Williams is playing 26.5 MPG and averaging 20.3 PPG for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Javale McGee made  $2,393,887 for the 2018-19 season. He averaged 12.0 PPG and 7.5 RPG for the Lakers.

There are many other examples of players that are producing more for their teams than Barton is for the Nuggets and that are getting paid much less to do so in the process.

The Nuggets should definitely consider trading Will Barton this summer to help clear cap space to bring in new players. However, the issue becomes what the Denver Nuggets will have  to include with Will Barton in a trade to get another team to take his contract .Few teams are likely to take on Barton’s contract.  Therefore, the Nuggets may have give up other assets to make another team willing to take Barton’s contract.

In 2018 when the Nuggets wanted to trade Kenneth Faried to get him off their books, the Nuggets had to include a protected 2019 first round pick, 2020 second round pick, and  Darrell Arthur. All the Nets had to give the Nuggets was  Isaiah Whitehead. The trade allowed the Nuggets to free up roughly $21 million in salary cap in the process. 

Kenneth Faried has been a solid bench player for Rockets and retaining him could have worked out for the Nuggets. Also, the Nuggets could have used a first round pick this season.

Is it worth giving up first round picks to move just Will Barton’s contract? No. Absolutely not. However, Barton’s contract  may be used in a trade involving Mason Plumlee.

If the Nuggets get rid of Mason Plumlee and Will Barton’s contract, it could save the Nuggets over $26 million dollars for the 2019-20 season. Plus, if the Nuggets let go of Paul Millsap this will allow the Nuggets to have enough cap space this offseason to sign a max free agent this summer. 

If the Nuggets can rid of Mason Plumlee’s contract in a trade involving Will Barton, it would highly advantageous for them moving forward.

While Will Barton is a good player, trading him this offseason is definitely an option the Denver Nuggets should keep open.