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#2 The Denver Nuggets will bring Will Barton back
Will Barton faced a $14.7-million player option for the 2021-22 NBA season, but he has reportedly declined it and will enter unrestricted free agency. The Denver Nuggets should try to preserve the wing depth they had in the past season, and Barton is a big part of that. He only becomes more prominent when you consider the rumors around Michael Porter Jr.
Barton has played with the Denver Nuggets since the 2014-15 NBA season and has been a solid performer for the squad. Last season, Barton averaged 12.7 points per game after converting 42.6% of his field goals, a career-high 38.1% of his threes and 78.5% of his free throws.
The Denver Nuggets should bring the 30-year-old back, as he's been an essential part of the team's starting lineup over the last four seasons.
#1 Michael Porter Jr. could be traded away
Michael Porter Jr. emerged as the third-best player on the Denver Nuggets' roster for the 2020-21 NBA season. However, the sophomore might not be on the team's future plans, given the financial situation created by the developed talent the Nuggets' roster already has. Porter Jr. is eligible for a rookie-scale contract extension this offseason and it will be interesting to see what comes out of it.
Clearly, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray have put pressure on the Denver Nuggets' financial situation due to their consistent displays of talent on the court. Both stars are commanding a high salary at the moment, and Jokic's salary is set to increase in 2022. Aaron Gordon is also owed around $18-million per year, which could force the Denver Nuggets to move on from the talented Porter.
Porter Jr. had an extraordinary sophomore season, averaging 19 points and seven rebounds per game with an immense 54/44/79 shooting split. Given the talent he possesses, it would be a bad move to trade Porter away.
But the former 14th pick of the 2018 NBA Draft entirely missed what would've been his real rookie year with a back injury. This will be a genuine concern for the Denver Nuggets' front office.
Moreover, given his talent and that he is just 23, Porter Jr. would definitely have a good number of teams interested in him on the trade market. The Denver Nuggets could receive a big package in return, thanks to Porter Jr.'s displays on the court for the past two years. This would in turn help them bolster their roster for the 2021-22 season.
Also Read: 5 free agents the Denver Nuggets should target in the 2021 NBA offseason
Guess the Lakers players!
