Nuggets’ Will Barton declines player option

Will Barton will test the free agency waters as the Denver Nuggets forward/guard has reportedly declined his player option for next season.

Per ESPN NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski, Barton declined the $14.7 million player option and will become an unrestricted free agent, though there’s a “strong interest” in both sides negotiating a new deal once free agency hits in August.

At the Nuggets season’s end press conference last month, head coach Michael Malone expressed that he would “love” to see Barton back with Denver next season.

“Of course, I hope he’s back. Will is one of the few players on our roster … that has been here every day that I’ve been here. And, obviously, you look at this six-year progression, what we have been able to accomplish, Will Barton’s definitely a big part of that,” Malone said.

The longest-tenured Nuggets player, Barton landed in Denver in February 2015 via a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Barton re-signed with Denver that August and then again in 2018.

In seven seasons with the Nuggets, Barton has played in 408 games, averaging 30.1 minutes, 13.9 points, 3.2 assists and 5.1 rebounds.

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