Will Barton will become a free agent, but the Nuggets still have interest in a return.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Denver Nuggets guard/forward Will Barton will decline his $14.7 million player option and become a free agent this offseason.
Denver Nuggets guard Will Barton will decline his $14.7 million player option for the 2021-22 season, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Both sides are hopeful to find a deal in free agency.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 17, 2021
Charania reports that both sides are hopeful to find a deal in free agency and Adrian Wojanarowski tweeted the same exact thing.
Longest tenured Nugget with 7 seasons, Barton’s a top priority for Tim Connelly to keep long-term. He started 52 games and averaged 12.7 PPG. He lost several weeks with hamstring injury into start of playoffs, but finished with 25-point performance vs. Suns in elimination game. https://t.co/SV5HNDPmKK
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 17, 2021
Barton is the longest tenured Nuggets player and has been with the team since the 2014-15 season. The Nuggets acquired Barton in a mid-season trade with the Portland Trail Blazers and since he’s played a big part in the growth of the team.
After battling with injuries two seasons ago, Barton had a bounce back year playing in 56 games averaging 12.7 points per game. Barton averaged four rebounds and 3.2 assists per game while shooting 42 percent from the field and 38 percent from three.
The last time Barton was a free agent back in 2018 the Nuggets signed him as soon as free agency started to a four-year, $53 million deal. Hopefully the Nuggets and Barton can come to terms on another deal this time around because he would be the third option for Denver to begin next season. With Jamal Murray likely to miss at least the start of the season, Barton could be the Nuggets third guy alongside Nikola Jokic and Michael Porter Jr..
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