Denver Nuggets wing Will Barton, who fired his agent in March 2021, has hired Andrew Morrison, Richard Beda, and Austin Brown from CAA.
The report, from Harrison Wind, DNVR Sports, comes with just over a month remaining before the 1 Aug. deadline on his $14.6 million Player Option.
If Barton declines his player option, I don't think that necessarily means it's the end for him and the Nuggets. My sense is that Barton would be open to returning to Denver, but there's also going to be interest around the league. https://t.co/0TbYtewrSn
— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) June 22, 2021
While the move doesn’t exactly translate into a flashing banner that reads ‘I’m leaving Denver’, it signals that there may be work on the contract front, whether that be an extension with the Nuggets or signing with another team.
The 30-year-old Barton is near the top tier of wings available in this year’s free agent class with the only superstar-level wing being Kawhi Leonard. It’s expected that Barton will be around the same dollar value as free agent wings like Norman Powell (Player Option), Evan Fournier, Tim Hardaway Jr, Danny Green, and Alex Burks among others.
If a team is looking for help on the wing and have enough cap space available, Barton might be the best name who’s changing teams.
Denver Nuggets: How does the rotation shake out without Will Barton?
The wing position in Denver is a bit crowded with PJ Dozier the better defensive option, the young Michael Porter Jr the better offensive option, and Aaron Gordon able to slide up a position when needed.
It doesn’t help that Barton has spent a lot of his contract injured when it counts. He was unable to join the team during the 2020 NBA Bubble Playoffs and only played in Denver’s final two games against the Phoenix Suns.
If Barton does turn down his option and look for greener pastures elsewhere, Tim Connelly and the Denver Nuggets brass might look at their playoff success without him as a reason to let him walk.
Not only would it open up (or leave open) playing time for the current players, it would give Denver some cash to throw around in free agency, either for a replacement wing or some other parts of the roster.
With Gary Harris now in an Orlando Magic uniform following the trade deadline acquisition of Aaron Gordon, Denver needs a new wing stopper. It was clear that’s what the team was missing after getting roasted by Damian Lillard in the Portland series and then Devin Booker and Chris Paul in the following.
Will the Thrill has never ‘thrilled’ with his defense so simply inserting him in the Harris role for next season won’t help on that end of the court.
With Jamal Murray sidelined for most, if not all, of next season, the Denver Nuggets will need a replacement for his offensive production and pick-and-roll acumen. Can Will Barton shoulder that heavier load? MPJ stepped up in Murray’s absence last season, could he share the ball-handling duties with Barton?
We won’t know until the 2021-22 season tips off and before then, Will has to decide where he’s playing next season. Keep an eye on the 1 Aug. option deadline next.
Denver Nuggets: What would a Will Barton extension look like?
If this is simply to re-sign with the Denver Nuggets, then what might Barton be looking for? He’s currently entering the final year of a four-year, $54 million contract which he signed in 2018, does he deserve more or less than that number?
Former Nugget Malik Beasley signed a four-year, $60 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves after being traded the season prior. At 24-years-old, there’s reason to believe he could grow while on that contract but his 19.6 points per game this season on 44 percent from the floor hasn’t exactly lived up to the billing.
Jordan Clarkson signed a four-year, $54 million deal last offseason with the Utah Jazz and it’s fair to say he has outperformed that deal. The 2020-21 Sixth Man of the Year just poured in over 18 points off the bench for the Western Conference’s first seed.
Clarkson is 28 this season and most of his contract is going to be played in his prime. With Barton on the wrong side of 30, can the same be said for him?
Another facsimile would be Danilo Gallinari signing with the Atlanta Hawks. At 32-years-old, Gallo joined a young Atlanta squad with cap space coming out of their ears. A few people weren’t fans of the deal with the idea being he’ll provide the value on the front end but it’d be a hard pill to swallow at the very end.
If Denver resigns Barton to one of these contracts or possibly even the same value he’s on now, plus extend MPJ either this offseason or next, the Nuggets have their team locked in for the foreseeable future. Is that what they want?