Target no. 1: Will Barton
Will Barton is 26 years old and on a contract that pays approximately $3.5 million annually through next season, an ideal fit for the role that was to be filled by Marcus Thornton.
Since becoming a Nugget, Barton has been a revelation, averaging 14.4 points last season and 13.5 points this season.
His shooting has continued to improve as well as he has a field goal percentage of 45.1% and a 3-point percentage of 38.5% this season.
The Baltimore native also has the ability to create his own offense, having nearly a 50/50 split between assisted and unassisted field goals made over the past two seasons.
He was linked to the Washington Wizards earlier this season and given his contract and ability to fill it up, he’d be an ideal trade target if Washington were to pursue an upgrade to the guard play off the bench.
2015-2016 Stats: 13.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg
Contract: In the second year of a 3-year/$10.6 million contract;
Wizards trade: Trey Burke, and a 2017 lottery protected 1st round pick
Target no. 2: Wilson Chandler
Wilson Chandler is another member of the Nuggets who’s surfaced in trade rumors.
Signed for two additional seasons at approximately $25 million, Chandler has a reasonable contract in the current NBA landscape. His play is also very steady, with Chandler having averaged 13.0, 13.6, and 13.9 points from 2012-2015 for the Denver Nuggets.
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This season he’s taken his game up a level and is averaging 15.6 points on 45.1% field goal percentage and 3-point percentage of 34.6%.
Chandler is not a player you would just hand the ball to and say “go score” as the majority of his field goals made are assisted, but he’d provide Washington with another solid wing player capable of scoring, shooting, and defending multiple positions in a league which is becoming position-less.
Take the loss to Cleveland, for example.
Washington had to defend numerous players capable of knocking down an open three versus Cleveland and when Markieff Morris and Kelly Oubre had fouled out, they were forced to turn to Tomas Satoransky in overtime.
Chandler is a physical wing that would give the team another option in those scenarios that’s very capable of and experienced playing in those moments without worry over the stage being too big.
Chandler is also a player capable of sharing the court with John Wall and Bradley Beal without disrupting what is in place.
While he’s a good fit and his contract is reasonable in today’s market, the one negative to pursuing Chandler is it would likely require some maneuvering in the offseason for Washington to retain Otto Porter and remain under the luxury tax.
2015-2016 Stats: 15.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg
Contract: In the second year of a four-year/$46.5 million contract
Trade: Andrew Nicholson, Trey Burke, and a 2017 lottery protected 1st round pick