According to Chris Haynes of ESPN, the Denver Nuggets and Will Barton are engaged in talks regarding a contract extension.

Barton has been an integral part of the Nuggets rotation for the last two and a half years. Acquired in a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers at the trade deadline during the 2014-15 season, the 6’5 wing averaged 13.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in primarily a bench role last year. He averaged a career high 37.0% from behind the 3-point line, and in his age-26 season, he showed his value as a creator outside the pressures of the Nikola Jokic-led offense.

The Nuggets have the entirety of the 2017-18 season to negotiate this extension with Barton, and it’s interesting that the news is coming out today. Haynes is one of the reporters most well connected to Barton in today’s NBA, and because of how long the two sides have to talk, it validates this report even more. The Nuggets have two incredibly important players in Nikola Jokic and Gary Harris that also need extensions though, so it’s even more curious that extension talks with Barton are coming out.

Here are some contract extensions signed in previous years by bench/fringe starter wing players like Barton:

2015 extensions/free agent signings

  • Terrence Ross – 3 years, $33 million
  • Danny Green – 4 years, $45 million
  • Monta Ellis – 4 years, $44 million

2016 extensions/free agent signings

  • Jordan Clarkson – 4 years, $50 million
  • Evan Turner – 4 years, $70 million
  • E’Twaun Moore – 4 years, $34 million
  • Austin Rivers – 3 years, $35 million
  • Eric Gordon – 4 years, $53 million

2017 extensions/free agent signings

  • Josh Richardson – 4 years, $42 million
  • Dion Waiters – 4 years, $52 million
  • Tim Hardaway Jr. – 4 years, $71 million
  • Tony Snell – 4 years, $46 million
  • Andre Iguodala – 3 years, $48 million
  • C.J. Miles – 3 years, $25 million
  • P.J. Tucker – 4 years, $32 million

These are just a few of the contracts signed in the last few years. Barton will likely be expecting a contract of over $50 million over four years. The Nuggets will be doing everything they can to keep room free for extensions for Jokic and Harris, so they may try and push the number down.

Whatever happens, it’s clear that the Nuggets want Will Barton back.