Denver Nuggets: 3 reasons to love re-signing Will Barton
By Adam Taylor
After opting out of his player option in late July, Will Barton re-signed with the Denver Nuggets on a reported two-year $32 million deal. Both the Denver Nuggets and WIll Barton himself were reportedly keen on extending the veteran wings stay, with head coach Michael Malone having this to say;
"“Of course I hope he’s back…he means a ton to me personally. He means a ton to this team.”"
Barton has been with the Nuggets since the 2014 season and has grown with the team as they’ve positioned themselves as serious contenders in the Western Conference. This isn’t the first time Will Barton has hit free agency and re-signed with the Denver Nuggets either; he did so back in 2018 too and had this to say at the time;
"“I knew the whole time I wanted to be here, but I also know it’s a business. Once we started talking more and more in the process and the business came together, I knew that it was a no-brainer. This is where I wanted to be.”"
It’s fair to say that Barton and the Nuggets have mutual respect, both from a basketball and professional standpoint. That relationship, we can assume, was a key factor in Barton extending his stay in the mile-high city for another two years.
The signing gives Denver a known commodity and provides Barton with an extended window of contention. Still, it also gives the roster an added boost from a moral and continuity standpoint which we will explore further in this article.
3 reasons to love re-signing Will Barton: Continuity
It’s rare that a team that undergoes a major reconstruction surfaces from the playoffs as an NBA champion. Usually, a re-constructed roster takes a year or two to gel before their individual superpowers can be fused to create a basketball powerhouse.
Often, we get far too caught up in how a team looks on paper and give far too little credit to a team’s unity and willingness to fight for each other. In all honesty, there needs to be a mix of star power and unbreakable team spirit – something that no one can accuse the Denver Nuggets of lacking.
In bringing back Will Barton (along with JaMychal Green), the Nuggets are doubling down on a roster short-changed by injuries last season. When a front office decides to run it back in this manner, they’re essentially telling the team, “we think you’re good enough,” which is an enormous morale booster and fosters a sense of loyalty between both parties.
Will Barton committing to the Nuggets project proves the strides the franchise has made in recent seasons. You have to love that.