Fansided

Which impending NBA free agents could have contributed in the Conference Finals?

By Ti Windisch

MIAMI, FL - APRIL 11: Wayne Ellington #2 of the Miami Heat shoots the ball against the Toronto Raptors on April 11, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - APRIL 11: Wayne Ellington #2 of the Miami Heat shoots the ball against the Toronto Raptors on April 11, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 26: Will Barton #5 of the Denver Nuggets dribbles the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 26, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 26: Will Barton #5 of the Denver Nuggets dribbles the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 26, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /

5. Will Barton

Will Barton has flown under the radar of most casual NBA fans, mostly because he’s spent his most productive seasons on the Denver Nuggets. That doesn’t mean that Will the Thrill cannot light it up with the best of them.

Barton averaged 15.7 points on 45.2 percent field goal shooting and 37.0 percent 3-point shooting this past season, while also contributing 5.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. He jacked up a solid 5.2 threes per game, meaning his efficiency from distance came at a pretty high volume.

On a decent Denver team, Barton started roughly half of the games he played. On a really good team, Barton could be a super sixth man who could also appear in three-guard lineups ala Eric Gordon. He could also serve as a nice auxiliary option as a starter on a stacked team without two standout guards.

There always some fear that any player entering free agency just had a nice contract season and that’s why he’s looked so good, but a deeper look shows that to be largely untrue in Barton’s case. In his three full Denver seasons combined, he still averages 14.6 points on 44.3 percent field goal shooting and 36.2 percent three-point shooting.

Barton can play. The only question is if Denver opts to spend and keep him, or if Barton decides to ply his trade elsewhere.

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