Denver Nuggets: 5 teams that could make a play for Will Barton

Unlike a lot of other NBA teams that will be going through major makeovers this offseason, the Denver Nuggets are gearing up to run it back with the same squad they had so much success with last year. You may be saying to yourself; “they got swept in the second round, that’s not success”.

To that, I say, look a little bit closer. Though they had 2021 NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, against the Phoenix Suns, the Nuggets were starting a backcourt that consisted of 30-year-old rookie Facundo Campazzo—whose game has a lot of limitations despite his constant feistiness—and Austin Rivers, who had been out of the league just a month before Denver grabbed him out of the bargain bin.

It should be no surprise, then, that a backcourt made up of a killer like Devin Booker and an all-timer like Chris Paul had a field day against the Denver Nuggets.

Not only had the Nuggets been without their second-best player and late-game closer, Jamal Murray, due to a torn ACL, but they were also without burgeoning two-way guard PJ Dozier, and star reserve Monte Morris missed games down the stretch of the season too.

They were also without Will ‘The Thrill’ Barton, who was thwarted by a bad hamstring that held him to just three appearances during Denver’s 2021 playoff run. Unlike the rest of the names I’ve mentioned, Barton is not signed through next season, which creates an interesting situation.

Asked recently by The Denver Post‘s Mike Singer about where he would be playing next season, the Thrill once again spoke about wanting to be properly valued, which would seem to point to the 30-year-old foregoing his $14.6 million player option this season (he must make that decision by July 17th) in the hopes of making a little more scratch on the open market.

“Being appreciated,” Barton said on 11 Jul. while the at the MLB All-Star Weekend to take part in the Celebrity softball game. “Team knowing my value. Of course, an important role. Just the right situation. I want to win.”

In other words, Barton is saying:

Barton’s firing of his agents in March this year and the recent signing of Andrew Morrison, Richard Beda, and Austin Brown of CAA points to some work having to be done on Barton’s contract, which would also point to the Baltimore native not picking up his 2021-22 Player Option.

With Barton likely to hit the open market this offseason, we took a look at some of his ideal and most likely landing spots during what promises to be a whirlwind offseason.

Apart from Kawhi Leonard and DeMar DeRozan, Barton might just be the best wing player in a free agent class stacked with them, so where would he want to go, and who would take him?