NBA Free Agency 2018: 5 offseason targets for the Denver Nuggets
3. Will Barton
You can’t go wrong with a nickname like Will “The Thrill” Barton right? When the Nuggets dealt Arron Aflallo to the Trailblazers in return for a future first round pick at the 2015 deadline, they probably saw Will Barton as little more than salary filler. Since then, Barton has expanded his game and transformed into a vital rotation piece for the Nuggets. For the better part of the past three seasons, he’s been their go-to scorer and creator off the bench.
Barton’s nickname suits his versatile offensive game well. Will the Thrill plays at a manic pace, attacking the rim off the dribble and pushing the ball in transition; he finished a tidy 66% of his shots within three feet last season, by far the best mark of his career since he became a consistent rotation player. Barton can also runs pick and rolls and space the floor with solid deep shooting. That varied skill set allowed him to play three positions for Denver last year, which they sorely needed because of their limited depth one and three spots last year. Barton’s frantic style of play consistently energized the team and he was unsurprisingly part of almost all of Denver’s best lineups. His game really fits how the Nuggets want to play and is generally in high demand in the modern NBA.
For all the electric aspects of Barton’s skill set on offense, his defense is suspect at best. Bouts of inattentiveness strike him too often, freeing up his assignment for easy buckets. Though he’s 6’6 with a long wingspan, Barton’s thin body frame doesn’t allow him to hold up against bigger players. He’s listed at 175 pounds… sheesh! Those defensive constraints might depress his market value this summer, especially given the lack of significant cap room across the league.
Navigating the Barton negotiations might be the toughest move that Denver has to face this summer. Although he’s clearly a skilled player, the Nuggets have to ask themselves whether or not Barton is going to be a key cog for them moving forward. That answer might depend on the price that he’s willing to sign for. Denver offered Barton a four-year extension worth $42 million last year, which he reportedly turned down. That was the largest possible extension Denver could offer, but Barton’s decision is somewhat understandable. He’s looking to cash in after playing on low salaries for years. With only a few teams possessing usable cap space though, will Barton get more than the full MLE? If the Nuggets can retain him at something in that ballpark of the full MLE or less, bringing Barton back would be worthwhile and not too costly.