Nuggets Guard Declines Player Option, Becomes Free Agent

 

With Jamal Murray likely out for a good chunk of next season recovering from an ACL tear, there was a clear opening at the shooting guard spot for the Denver Nuggets, but Will Barton has decided not to take it, for now at least, by declining his $14.7 million dollar player option and becoming a free agent. 

He is still hoping to negotiate a longer-term contract with the Nuggets, who also seem intent to find a way to keep him. 

Will Barton will decline his player option for next season to become an unrestricted free agent, league sources tell @ChrisBHaynes.

➡️ https://t.co/u6VBJ3YKb4 pic.twitter.com/3ljM8hLeYG

— Yahoo Sports NBA (@YahooSportsNBA) July 17, 2021

Barton averaged 12.7 points per game this season, while shooting a solid 38% from behind the arc. 

The Nuggets would be extremely thin at guard to start the season if Barton signs elsewhere, so Denver will do its best to strike a deal. As pointed out by Bobby Marks of ESPN, although they are over the cap, the Nuggets own Barton's Bird Rights, allowing them to exceed the cap to sign him. 

Barton had until Saturday to opt-in to his contract for 2021-22. He has bird rights, allowing Denver to sign him to a new contract and exceed the cap. Including the $7.6M player option of JaMychal Green and 1st, the Nuggets have $114.3M in salary and are over the cap. https://t.co/H4Osep5txk

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 17, 2021

Barton's final impression in the just concluded season was a good one, with a 25-point performance in the Nuggets' Game 4 loss and elimination at the hands of the Phoenix Suns.

Photo Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports