Will Barton declines $14.7M player option

Will Barton didn't pick up his player option, but both he and the Nuggets remain interested in working out a new deal. Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Nuggets' Will Barton declines $14.7 million player option

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 7/18/21

Denver Nuggets wing Will Barton has declined his $14.7 million player option for the 2021-22 season, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

However, there is strong interest between the Nuggets and Barton to negotiate a new deal once free agency begins next month, Wojnarowski adds.

ESPN Sources: Denver Nuggets G/F Will Barton has declined his $14.7M player option for the 2021-2022 season and will become a free agent. There’s a strong interest between the organization and Barton to negotiate a new deal once free agency opens in August.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 17, 2021

Re-signing Barton is a priority for Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly. The 30-year-old is the longest-tenured Nugget with seven seasons in Denver.

Barton averaged 12.7 points, four rebounds and 3.2 assists per game this season while shooting 42.6% from the field and 38.1% from deep. He suffered a hamstring injury and missed more than six weeks at the end of the regular season and into the playoffs.

The Baltimore native returned for Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Phoenix Suns before the Nuggets were eventually swept in that series.

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