Is there a chance Will Barton returns?

Is there any chance that Denver Nuggets wing Will Barton plays against the Los Angeles Clippers?

There hasn’t been any discussion about the possibility of Will Barton returning the the bubble after lingering knee soreness caused the veteran wing to sit out indefinitely. However, the Denver Nuggets — nor Barton himself — have said that he’s out for the rest of the season, possibly indicating that The Thrill is still hoping he can return to the court in the playoffs.

With the Western Conference semifinals set to tip-off on Thursday for the Nuggets, it’s unlikely that Barton will be able to play in this series unless it’s a long one. However, considering that the Dallas Mavericks were able to secure two wins against the Clippers, writing Denver off as a quick out in the second round could be a mistake.

Barton, like Gary Harris, could have an immediate impact because he can make plays on both sides of the ball and gives Nuggets head coach Michael Malone another player he can call on to replace an ineffective player. So far this postseason, veteran forward Paul Millsap has been the team’s most ineffective rotation player, so Barton’s presence could minimize Millsap’s time on the floor.

This would lead to Jerami Grant and Michael Porter Jr. playing the bulk of the minutes at power forward while Barton and Torrey Craig play more minutes at small forward.

Against the Clippers, this would be advantageous for Grant and Porter, whose athleticism and shooting ability can make them matchup nightmares on the other end. This would also minimize the amount of time Porter is expected to defend a player of Kawhi Leonard or Paul George’s caliber, with Barton, Craig and Grant getting most of those opportunities.

Unfortunately, this could all be wishful thinking. Nonetheless, if Denver does advance to the Western Conference Finals, Barton would still make the Nuggets more difficult to defeat.

Do you believe that Will Barton will return in time to play in the Western Conference semifinals? Let us know on Twitter @Nugg_Love.