Denver Nuggets: Will Barton Earning A New Contract?

When the Denver Nuggets traded Arron Afflalo and Alonzo Gee to the Portland Trail Blazers right before the NBA trade deadline, it appeared like more of a salary dump than any move that would benefit the roster.

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In fact, most Nuggets fans were simply excited about the 2016 first round pick that they received in return for the pair of veterans. The player return package of Will Barton, Victor Claver and Thomas Robinson seemed like something the Nuggets had to do in order to make the numbers work in the trade. There was little chance that three players most had never heard of would make an impact for this struggling Nuggets team.

Will Barton had other thoughts, however.

Barton has now played a full 20 games for the Nuggets, and in that time we’ve seen him emerge as a valuable energy guy and asset for Denver’s game. While playing in a Nuggets uniform, the forward is averaging 25.9 minutes a game and putting up 11.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.

He’s shooting 46.2 percent from the field and a respectable 34.7 percent from beyond the arc. He’s shown us all he’s a good fit on the Nuggets as he’s already put up more than 20 points in three games (vs. New Orleans, Phoenix and Utah).

Not bad for a player who only averaged 10 minutes and 3.0 points a game while playing with the Trail Blazers this season.

Barton’s emergence comes at an opportune time for the second-year player, as his rookie contract is set to expire this summer. When the Nuggets conclude their losing season after eight more games, Barton is a restricted free agent, and Nuggets general manager Tim Connelly needs to give him a deal to extend his time in Denver.

ESPN reported that chances are high the Nuggets will retain Barton with a new deal this summer. The new deal is necessary for the team, and the Nuggets should consider Barton as part of the new core they will rebuild around to make a return to the playoffs (joining Ty Lawson, Kenneth Faried, and Danilo Gallinari).

Yes, that is a strong statement to make for a player who is only putting up 11.9 points a game for the Nuggets, but Barton has earned it outside of the stat sheet. His energy has been a big boost for a Nuggets team that looked lost and disinterested before firing Brian Shaw on Mar. 3.

The team has used Barton’s energy and style in a similar way that they used Corey Brewer, they’re feeding him on the fast break, and it’s helping the Nuggets open their offense up across the board. His contribution is a big reason why the Nuggets averaged 104.2 points a game in March, up from their seasonal average of 100.5 points a game.

His attitude has been a relief in a bad season too.

“No doubt,” Barton told the Denver Post after being asked if he thinks Denver is a good fit for his next contract. “I think we can build something here. We have a lot of good talent, a good organization, coaching staff is good. I can see us building and having a strong future here. We can grow together.”

Tim Connelly’s first move to start the rebuild this summer should be signing Will Barton to a contract extension. Failing to do so would keep the Nuggets on the wrong path.

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