After being limited to 43 games in 2018/19 due to injuries, Nuggets swingman Will Barton has been slowed in camp due to a nagging hamstring ailment, which he admits has been frustrating, per Mike Singer of The Denver Post.
“Definitely a little deflating, coming off an injury-plagued season last year,” said Barton, who is entering the second season of his four-year, $53MM contract with the Nuggets. “The good thing is I feel good when I’m out there, I’m real confident, I’m not really holding back very much. Doing the things I like to do. Got a good rhythm, so not too depressed, but it is a little deflating because I don’t want to hold back, I want to be able to practice fully and play fully and do everything.”
The Nuggets have indicated that the starting small forward position is up for grabs, with Torrey Craig, Juan Hernangomez, and Michael Porter among the players vying for the role. Barton would seemingly be the favorite if and when he’s healthy, but his hamstring may put him behind the eight-ball in that competition to start the season.
Here’s more from around the Northwest:
- Danilo Gallinari, acquired by the Thunder for salary-matching purposes in the Paul George blockbuster, is on an expiring contract and may not have a long-term stay in Oklahoma City, but a productive season could benefit both him and the team, writes Erik Horne of The Oklahoman. As Horne points out, if Gallinari is healthy and effective, the Thunder could flip him at the deadline, and he’d be in position to cash in as a free agent in 2020.
- Royce Young of ESPN.com explores how the Thunder are adjusting to life in the post-Russell Westbrook era.
- The Timberwolves are encouraging newly-acquired big man Jordan Bell to reclaim his basketball identity after playing a limited role in Golden State, writes Chris Hine of The Star Tribune. “Jordan is not used to shooting. We want him to shoot,” Karl-Anthony Towns said of his new frontcourt mate. “Be a scorer. Be who you are. … Don’t feel you can’t use the talents that you’ve been practicing for so long but you don’t get to show.”
Jordan Bell “shooting” the ball. Now thats a laugh. Are we talking outside of 12 ft? Good luck with that.
Maybe KAT can help him with his 3-point shot, although he probably can’t show him much of anything that Steph didn’t already.
Still think there rotation should look like ..
1. Murray. Morris
2. Harris. Barton. Beasley
3. Grant. Craig. Dozier
4. Millsap. Porter. Hernagomez. Vanderbilt
5. Jokic. Plumblee. Zeller. Bol Bol
I’d expect them to rest Millsap quite abit and play small line ups with Grant at 4 and have Craig/Barton/Beasley/Porter play minutes at 3.
Grant as your 3? That ain’t gonna work.
Until Millsap leaves or gets injured, he’s a bench player.
Why can’t Grant play the 3? He started his career of at SF. Last year he shot 39% from 3 while giving you 13 points and only 5 rebounds.
Grant can easily mark all SFs and on offence would be able to over power some SFs and can still stretch the floor.
Plus off the bench Craig and Plumblee play good be rough defence to allow Porter Jr good minutes at reserve PF. That would be a really good second unit with Barton Beasley and Morris
Fine talent no matter how it’s stacked! I like Grant at 3 too. Offensively, I have only seen him work along the baseline, but maybe he was restricted to that.
They should just rest Barton, there’s enough there to cover for him.
Craig should start at the 3
Exactly, gives them some defense – not the Nugs’ strong point. Let Barton, Plumlee and Grant come off the bench, could run it as wholesale subs – instant energy
NORTHWEST ???
Minnesota
Denver
Oklahoma City
They may be NORTHWEST in Miami’s view,
BUT NOT the rest of the country !!
Who cares what division they are in. The NBA has more teams in the East so it splits the map up differently.
Your little comment doesn’t change that bro