Will Barton
Will Barton declined his 2021-22 player option with the Denver Nuggets, turning down $14.7 million in the process. However, that does not mean that he will be leaving the Mile High City behind.
While teams such as the New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies could be good fits for Barton, he won’t be going anywhere. Barton will return to Denver with a new contract that better fits what he feels his value is.
The Nuggets and Barton both have an interest in making a new deal this offseason. This is a good opportunity for Barton to leverage things into a lucrative long-term deal, as Denver needs him back.
Without much money to spend on free agents, the Nuggets would be hard-pressed to replace a player such as Barton. He has been with the team since being acquired in a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers on February 19th, 2015. He is the longest-tenured Nugget and provides a lot of production for the team.
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With Jamal Murray looking unlikely for the 2021-22 season with a torn ACL, Denver cannot afford to lose Barton. His scoring and playmaking are much needed given how shorthanded they are looking like they will be in the backcourt.
