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

Will Barton destinations: 5. Memphis Grizzlies – Return to Tennessee

This one’s a little bit more of a shot in the dark on my part, but this would seem to be a nice fit for both the Memphis Grizzlies and Will Barton. The Grizzlies are one of the most exciting up-and-coming teams in the NBA today, but they could definitely use a little bit of veteran leadership.

As head coach Michael Malone attested to in his end-of-season press conference, Barton is not only a sight to see on the court, but he’s a strong locker room presence, someone who helps give the team a positive and winning culture on and off the court.

The Minnesota Timberwolves, at an average player age of 23.9, are the only team younger than these Grizzlies, who average 24.2 years of age. Not to mention that their head coach, Taylor Jenkins, is only 36 years old himself. Adding a poised guy like Barton to supplement the youngsters would be a wise move for Memphis.

According to Spotrac projections, the Grizzlies can expect just under $23 million in practical cap space for the upcoming season, sixth-most in the NBA as of this writing. If the team turns down Justise Winslow’s $13 million Team Option for next season, they’ll essentially be able to replace him with Will Barton.

Barton’s offensive game is also unique in that it’s so varied. He can get technical with you, but he can also be flashy and acrobatic and put up those highlight plays that Memphis’ Ja Morant is so well-known for.

Barton’s offensive pedigree is largely underrated by the media, but Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox’s answer when asked which guys he would take with him to win a game at the park spoke volumes.

The Grizzlies are going to be a very good team, very soon, maybe even challenging this upcoming season. They had the grit and poise to beat the Golden State Warriors in the play-in game, so adding another polished all-around player like Barton—who they have more than enough money to pay—would be a big boost to their burgeoning title hopes.

Oh, and did I mention that Will the Thrill played his college ball for… the Memphis Tigers. During two years with the program, Barton excelled, leading the team in scoring (18.0) and rebounding (8.0) in his second and final year at the school, during which he also won C-USA Player of the Year. Who knows, maybe those fond college memories can help whisk Will Barton back to Tennessee.