Will Barton thinks the Nuggets are "building something special," but will he be a part of it?

DENVER — Will Barton walked into the center of the scrum for his exit interview Thursday wearing flip flops with pink flowers printed on them. The Nuggets’ flashy swingman seemed to rock a different pair of shoes each time a camera was in front of him this year. Hours after going for 24 points in a do-or-die game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Barton spoke about the season that was and his future in Denver.

The 27-year-old will become an unrestricted free agent this summer. When Barton does hit the open market, he’ll have as many variables to weigh as the number of kicks that are in his closet.

“It’s something new,” Barton said. “I’ll let my agent take care of it. Just wish for the best and do my part.”

There’s his financial security to consider, of course. Barton was one of the best bargains in basketball the last three seasons, earning a little more than $3.5 million annually. He just wrapped up a career year. Although teams aren’t swimming in cash like it’s the summer of 2016, his services could be in high demand.

Then there’s the desire to become a starter tugging at him. Barton started 40 games for the Nuggets this season. But when they were completely healthy, he was used in a sixth-man role.

“If given the opportunity I could be the starter somewhere where I would play a big role that would mean (something) because I always want to challenge myself every offseason,” Barton said. “I feel like that’s what’s made me better because I give myself a challenge to look forward to. If I would know I would be a starter coming into next season that would push me in the offseason. … That’s what makes me who I am and what makes me better every year. That will definitely be a goal of mine.”

Loyalty also comes into the equation. Barton was glued to the bench during his first 2 1/2 season in the league with the Portland Trail Blazers. He only got consistent minutes after a midseason trade in 2015 sent him to Denver. He’s played a big part in the Nuggets’ rebuild effort and enjoys hooping alongside the three foundational pieces the team already has in place.

“I think we’re building something real special here,” Barton said. “I love playing with Jok (Jokic) and Jamal and Gary. The guys we have in the locker room, I like being around. The coaching staff has really come a long way with trusting me and me trusting them. Just the whole organization, I feel like we’re headed in the right direction. Man, I would love to be in the playoffs this year. I feel like if we bring the nucleus of our team back next year with the lessons we learned at the end of the season, we could be that team full time and consistent. I would love to be a part of that.”

Lastly, Barton wants to win. Few players on Denver’s roster took losses harder than Barton. He’s never been a rotation player on a team that’s made the postseason. The Nuggets came oh so close this year, rattling off six straight wins down the stretch before losing in overtime to the Timberwolves in the regular-season finale. Falling just short gnawed at him.

“If we play with that sense of urgency that we did at the end then we wouldn’t have even been in this position,” Barton lamented. “We missed it by one game this year.”

“Just winning — that means the most to me.”

In October, Barton bet on himself by reportedly turning down a four-year, $42 million extension. He ended up playing the best basketball of his career, averaging 15.7 points on 45.2 percent shooting, 5.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists. How much Denver offers him this summer depends on whether Wilson Chandler accepts his $12.8 million player option and if it’s able to unload any salary already on the books.

“I would love nothing more than to have Will Barton back in a Denver Nugget uniform,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said.

The decision is out of Malone’s control now. Barton and the Nuggets’ front office will have to work out a new deal if he’s to stay in Denver, a place where he grew from benchwarmer to Sixth Man of the Year candidate.

“All I can speak to is my relationship with Will Barton and how I care about him as a person first and foremost,” Malone said. “He wore so many hats this year. Starter, off the bench, backup point guard, two guard, small forward. It doesn’t matter with Will. He’s just a basketball player. To see him step up in the manner in which he did when Gary Harris was out late, that allowed us to go 8-3 in our last 11 games. That allowed us to go 6-1 to close out of the season. I thought Will was fantastic. I really did.”