Will Barton Reportedly Will Decline Nuggets Contract Extension, Hit Free Agency

Denver Nuggets swingman Will Barton has rebuffed the team's attempts to sign him to an extension and plans to hit unrestricted free agency in 2018.

Chris Haynes of ESPN.com reported the Nuggets "anticipated" Barton would not sign an extension. He will be in the final season of a three-year, $11 million contract in 2017-18, which has become one of the NBA's best value deals.

The 26-year-old averaged 13.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game during the regular season. He missed 22 games overall and the last eight contests of the season. Had he not been shelved for that stretch, Barton likely would have been in contention for Sixth Man of the Year Award honors.

The Nuggets are eligible to give Barton a contract extension that could put more money in his pocket upfront using their cap space. They pulled similar moves with Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler in 2015, mutually beneficial moves that gave those players extra money in the interim in exchange for a lower average cap hold.

With Barton making only $3.5 million next season, a similar extension would likely be untenable. Players of his caliber and skill set are now making upwards of $15 million per season thanks to the cap rise. The Nuggets will have a ton of cap space this summer but may use much of that sum to re-sign Gallinari, who is expected to opt out of his player option for 2017-18.

In addition, as Haynes notes, Barton's potential extension would be capped out at about $39 million over four years. There is little reason for him to sign now when he could ink a deal worth twice as much, should he have a big 2017-18 season.