Report: Nuggets' swingman Will Barton eying free agency in 2018

Will Barton will bypass a potential contract extension with the Denver Nuggets this summer and turn his focus towards 2018, when the swingman can become an unrestricted free agent and potentially secure a more lucrative deal, according to Chris Haynes of ESPN.com

In 2017-18, Barton will play on the last year of a three-year $10.6 million contract with the Nuggets that he signed in the summer of 2015. His contract for next season, that will pay him approximately $3.5 million, makes Barton’s deal one of the most valuable contracts in the league. The Nuggets have not offered Barton an extension, nor was it one of their goals this summer, per Christopher Dempsey of Altitude Sports, but Barton’s clearly looking to maximize his earnings in the prime of his career.

Less than a year after signing that $10.6 million deal in 2015, Barton and his agent Brian Elfus of Impact Sports Basketball, parted ways.

Barton, 26, averaged 13.7 points on 44.3 percent shooting from the field and 37.0 shooting from three, to go with 4.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists over 60 games (19 starts) for Denver this past season. The 37.0 percent mark from three represented a career-high for Barton who made himself into a reliable shooter from deep during the past two years with the Nuggets after struggling in that department to begin his career in Portland.

The 6-6 wing was a valuable member of Denver’s bench unit last season, was a source of instant offense and even played some point guard during the second half of last season when the Nuggets’ rotation was ravaged by injuries.

At Media Day last fall, Barton said he wanted to eventually move into a starting role.

“One of my goals is to be a starter,” Barton said. “I don’t want to be put in a box yet. I feel like I’m still young in my career, still young in age, so I feel like I can still become a starter and be a good starter. So I’m definitely striving for that in my career, but as of right now I’m going to do whatever coach needs me to do. Wherever he puts me at I’m just going to do what I got to do, but I definitely want to be a starter. I feel like I can take that next leap.”

The Nuggets have a busy summer ahead and general manager Tim Connelly will try to get an extension done with shooting guard Gary Harris, re-sign center Mason Plumlee and make a call on whether to bring back likely unrestricted free agent Danilo Gallinari. A potential extension with Barton can apparently be crossed off that list.