Will Barton Trade Rumors: Latest News, Speculation Surrounding Nuggets Guard

Denver Nuggets shooting guard Will Barton has seen his name crop up among trade rumors throughout 2016, though the previous rumors never gained any traction. Just days before the new year, those rumors haven't stopped.

Continue for updates. 

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Pelicans, Wizards Inquired About Barton

Tuesday, Dec. 20

On Tuesday, his name popped up again when Chris Haynes of ESPN.com reported that the Washington Wizards and New Orleans Pelicans have "reached out" to "gauge [the] availability" of Barton. 

The 25-year-old has only played in 16 games this season, missing 12 due to an ankle injury. During that healthy span, he averaged 13.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game while shooting 42.5 percent from the field. 

He makes some of his biggest impacts near the rim, though, thanks to his highlight-reel athleticism:

It's made him a compelling target to try to trade for, as his name was originally included in what would have been a blockbuster deal had it happened. Fox Sports 1's Chris Broussard (then of ESPN) told Mike & Mike in February that the Los Angeles Clippers offered Blake Griffin and Lance Stephenson to the Nuggets for Danilo Gallinari, Kenneth Faried, Nikola Jokic and Barton. 

Dan Woike of the Orange County Register quickly refuted those rumors, though, via HoopsHype.

After completing that 2015-16 season averaging 14.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, both career highs, his name came up again during the offseason.

Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post reported in September that his solid season "had other teams offering first-round picks to nab him."

Both the Wizards and Pelicans could use Barton to add some depth to their backcourt. In Washington, he would be working alongside Bradley Beal and John Wall and most likely coming off the bench. 

With the Pelicans, he would provide an upgrade over E'Twaun Moore, who is starting ahead of 2016 first-round pick Buddy Hield. 

Stats courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com.