Denver Nuggets: Michael Malone wants Will Barton back

With Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone saying he wants Will Barton back this offseason, a contract extension seems like the likely option.

Barton has a Player Option for the 2021-22 season but there’s also the opportunity that he declines the option and signs a new contract. That new contract could be with any team, but there seems to be a lot of positive momentum towards an extension with the Denver Nuggets.

Malone, at his end of season press conference, was effusive in his praise for the 30-year-old wing who has been with the Nuggets for Malone’s entire tenure:

"“I would love for Will Barton to be back. Everything he brings to the team. That’s on the court, off the court, in the locker room, from a culture standpoint. … He means a ton to me personally. He means a ton to this team and everything we’ve been able to accomplish these last six years. … Me, personally, I hope he’s back here for a long time.”"

Denver Nuggets: Michael Malone wants Will Barton back, how does that impact free agency?

As we wrote about this week, Will Barton has hired a new agency per Harrison Wind, DNVR Sports. It doesn’t immediately mean that Will the Thrill is leaving, but it signals that there will be some contract negotiations of some sort.

Barton is one of the best unrestricted wing free agents in this year’s class. While he might not garner as much money annually compared to Norman Powell, Evan Fournier, Tim Hardaway Jr, or DeMar DeRozan, he’s a serviceable wing that could add instant offense to all 30 teams.

Alongside Malone’s comments, Tim Connelly and the Nuggets brass have always taken care of their own, giving extension to players earlier than needed, and trying to keep talent in-house, not “skipping steps”.

With Jamal Murray sidelined for most, if not all, of next season, there’s a definite role for Barton on this Nuggets team. His share of ball-handling duties has fallen in recent seasons with the emergence of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray as well as the younger Michael Porter Jr growing into his own.

In the 2019-20 season, he put up 15.1 points per game and took 12.9 shots a night. When using NBA.com’s tracking data, his most common number of dribbles was between two and six, letting him hunt for his shot and get his.

This past season, most of his touches involve him dribbling less than two times, up to 45.7 percent of his opportunities, a change from 38.6 the season prior per NBA.com/stats.

If we’re assuming he wants more control of the ball, as he had for most of his career, the Jamal Murray injury gives him this. Denver needs a player (or multiple players) to replace the offensive load Jamal brings to this team until he can play again.

Instead of trying to sign Murray’s replacement on the open market or look to the 2021 NBA Draft, the Nuggets can look down the end of their bench as ask for more internally. Barton has had a heavier offensive load in the past so there’s no reason to think he can’t be the starting two-guard on opening night.

All these factors: Malone’s positive comments, the nature of Connelly’s front office moves, and the opportunity for Barton on next season’s team all point towards him staying. Barton hiring a new agency makes it look a lot like an extension is on the way.