Will Barton was the ultimate swingman for the Nuggets this season, starting at both shooting guard and small forward, coming off the bench as the sixth man and even spending some time as the backup point guard. He finished averaging 15.7 points, five rebounds and 4.1 assists per game while shooting 45.2 percent from the floor and 37 percent from 3-point distance — the best numbers of his five-year career.
Now Barton has a big decision to make, entering this summer as an unrestricted free agent. And though Barton said he would “love” to be part of another Denver playoff push next season, he also expressed a desire to move into a permanent starting role.
“We’re building something real special here,” Barton said Thursday. “I love playing with (Nikola Jokic) and Jamal (Murray) and Gary (Harris). 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.”
Denver’s backcourt is locked up, with Harris signing a lucrative extension before this season and Murray still on his rookie contract. But if Wilson Chandler does not pick up his player option for next season, the 6-foot-6, 190-pound Barton could slide into the Nuggets’ starting small forward spot.
“If I would be able to know I would be a starter coming into next season, that would push me in the offseason,” Barton said. “It’s something that I’ve never been before or done before. That’s what makes me who I am and what makes me better every year. That will definitely be a goal of mine.”
Millsap finishes “frustrating” season. Paul Millsap, a four-time all-star and Denver’s marquee free-agent signing, acknowledged that this injury-interrupted season was “by far” his most difficult as a professional.
“Frustrating, to say the least,” said Millsap, referring to the wrist ligament surgery that kept him sidelined for three months and at less than 100 percent after returning in late February.
Continuing to build up the strength and range of motion in that wrist becomes a top priority in the offseason. But doctors warned Millsap that the injury probably will not be fully healed until the year anniversary of his surgery in mid-November.
That’s why Millsap’s return was dotted with “good days and bad days.” He averaged 14.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists in his final 15 games, but went a combined 5-for-18 for 16 total points in the Nuggets’ final two contests.
“Not how I wanted to play, especially (Wednesday) night,” Millsap said. “I wanted to be more involved and wanted to do more. It’s tough, because (Jokic) had it going. My main focus was to play tremendous defense and help out in that aspect.”
Final play breakdown. Nuggets coach Michael Malone pointed to failed late-game execution as a primary reason for his team’s 112-106 season-ending overtime loss at Minnesota. On Thursday, he broke down the final play of regulation, in which Jokic got the ball with about four seconds left but lost it thanks to bruising defense by Taj Gibson.
Malone said the plan was to get Jokic the ball on the left block for the last shot, or to reset after a timeout if Minnesota opted to use its foul to give. But Gibson pushed Jokic out to the corner and snagged the ball as Jokic went up for long-range attempt.
“I think most coaches would agree with this — if you’re going to get a shot to win the game, get it in the hands of your best player where he’s most effective,” Malone said. “Obviously, Nikola on that left block is very efficient and very effective. You give Taj Gibson credit for knocking the ball loose and forcing a turnover.”
Torrey Craig’s future uncertain. Rookie wing Torrey Craig parlayed his two-way contract with Denver into a rotation role. But his deal was for one season, meaning he has “no clue” what the future holds for him with the Nuggets — or in the NBA.
“I really don’t,” Craig said. “ … Now that this is over, I don’t know what to expect. I don’t know what’s gonna happen. Just gonna wait and see.”
Craig, who was most recently playing in Australia before signing with Denver, was praised this season for his defensive versatility and energetic play. He said returning to the Nuggets “would be ideal, but you can never know what can happen.” Craig is classified as a restricted free agent, meaning Denver could match any full contract offered by another NBA team.
Quotable. Malone on if he believes he’ll be Denver’s coach next season: “You can never expect anything, because it’s a wild business. But there’s nothing in my heart that says I won’t be back. If that was even a discussion, then I think we’ve got some things to talk about.”
