After finding his footing with the Denver Nuggets this season, Will Barton is hoping for a return to the Mile High City.
The Nuggets are hoping for the same.
According to The Denver Post's Christopher Dempsey, the Nuggets are interested in retaining Barton, and are expected to extend the 24-year-old guard a qualifying offer, which would make him a restricted free agent and give the Nuggets the chance to match competing offers.
The two sides are likely to reach a multi-year agreement, Dempsey reports.
Barton, who was traded from Portland to Denver at February's trade deadline, went from playing 10 sporadic minutes per game with the Trail Blazers to logging more than 24 minutes a night while suiting up for 28 straight games with the Nuggets.
"It was a blessing in disguise, finally getting the chance to play some valuable minutes, and show people what I can do, show people my talent and that I can contribute and be a really good player," Barton told Dempsey of the mid-season trade.
"It meant everything to me."
A second-round draft pick (40th overall) by the Blazers in 2012, Barton averaged 11 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 steals in his two-month audition with the Nuggets to close the season.
Barton isn't much of a shooter (career 23 percent 3-point shooter), but he provides enough energy and scoring ability in small doses to potentially project as a solid option off of the bench.
"I'm a good playmaker, can get to the rim, can really defend," Barton said. "I'm going to play with a lot of heart, a lot of passion ... I think I proved I can be a good player in this league, given the opportunity."
By the sounds of it, the Nuggets agree.
