Denver Nuggets Looking To Deal Will Barton To Improve Their Playoff Seeding

By Jordan Long

The Denver Nuggets return to action tomorrow against the Dallas Mavericks to open up the second half of the season.  Denver currently sits in 6^th place in the Western Conference.  The Philadelphia 76ers have called the Nuggets to see about a possible trade for starting small forward Will Barton.

                 There are times Head Coach Mike Malone puts somebody else in the lineup and has Barton come off the bench.  This is to bring energy off the bench.  Barton has played in 33 games this year while starting 29 of them. Barton isn’t a star player but he gives the Nuggets hard minutes, averaging 11.6 points per game.  When he is guarded and knows he can’t make the shot, Barton passes the ball to his teammates for an easier look at the basket, averaging 3.1 assists per game. 

                Barton sometimes can shoot the Denver Nuggets out of a game.  Instead of finding a teammate for an open look, Barton throws up a shot with a hand in his face.  Those can be misses and opponents will grab the rebound to start fast break points or to set up the offense.   He makes 38.5% of his 3’s which is 6^th on the team.

                The Nuggets could deal him to the 76ers.  This may allow for Michael Porter Jr. to receive more minutes.   Porter is a better player than Barton averaging 13.9 points per game. When it comes to shooting the 3, they are about even.  Porter Jr. hits 37.5% of his 3’s.

                The Nuggets could feel to make a run at the 4 or 3 seed, changes need to be made.  Currently, Denver sits 2 games behind the Clippers for 4^th in the West.  The Lakers sit in 3^rd and Denver is only 2.5 games behind them.

                Barton could be delt to the 76ers.  The player who could come back to the Nuggets is Danny Green.  Green doesn’t score as often as Barton at 8.5 points per game.  He won’t make 3 point shots as often at 37.6%.  This is not the trade the Nuggets need to make at this time.  Adding Green won’t improve their seeding.                 The trade deadline in the NBA is on March 25^th.  The Nuggets might be looking to acquire talent. They could use another outside shooter to help this team down the stretch and in the playoffs.   The Nuggets will do what is best for the team, but trading Barton for Green isn’t the move they need to make at this time.