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Wizards Expected to Reach Buyout Agreement With Will Barton

Originally posted on Hoops Wire | By Sam Amico | Last updated 2/9/23

The Wizards and guard/forward Will Barton are expected to agree to a contract buyout, sending him into free agency, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Washington aimed to trade Barton ahead of Thursday’s deadline but was unable to find a deal.

“It hasn’t worked out and going back to his hometown of DC for some reason he just hasn’t been able to stick in the rotation,” Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report said the This League Uncut Podcast with Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

“He feels like he’s still the player he was, he still thinks he could still be a prominent player in a reserve role. And I was told he would like to play on a contending team and so you got look for teams like Milwaukee or Brooklyn for that matter.”

Barton, 32, is averaging 7.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 19.7 minutes. All are his lowest averages since the 2014-15 season. This is his first season with the Wizards after an offseason trade with the Nuggets.

ESPN Sources: The Wizards are working on a contract buyout for veteran G/F Will Barton, allowing him to become a free agent. Barton, 32, has had a limited role with Washington this season, but started 71 games and averaged 14.7 points for the Nuggets a season ago.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 9, 2023