Chowder and Champions’ Tarringo Basile-vaughan believes the Boston Celtics got the Woj bomb they were looking for on February 21 when it was announced the Wizards and Will Barton have reached an agreement for a buyout.
Barton is now a free agent who’s able to sign with a playoff-eligible team at any point before the end of the regular season, and the Celtics happen to have an opening on their depth chart along the perimeter.
Basile-vaughan, in his piece titled ‘Will Barton is the final piece to the championship puzzle,’ said as much while championing Boston adding a wing who’s a year removed from averaging over 14 points per game on a 46.7% conversion rate on 3-point catch-and-shoot attempts:
"“Perhaps this is the Woj bomb the Celtics have been waiting for when it comes to the buyout market.”“After losing out on veteran sharpshooter Danny Green, who chose the Cleveland Cavaliers for more playing time, the C’s really wasn’t in on big man Kevin Love. Obviously, the team didn’t have a backcourt need for Russell Westbrook. So, a wing player like Barton would be a natural fit.”"
Rolling dice on Boston Celtics sharpshooter could prove no need for another wing
It’s entirely possible that the Boston Celtics won’t look to add Barton, or any other veteran free agent target ahead of the end of the 2022-23 regular season. While adding a veteran big man in Mike Muscala brought shooting to the big man rotation, there may not be a need to do the same along the perimeter due to the presence of Sam Hauser.
Having seen his shooting fall off for large portions of the December and January months, Hauser stuck it through and has shot 52% from the 3-point line in February. Gutting it out through a shooting slump has added character to a player who seemed poised for a long-term role.
Giving him a vote of confidence for the rest of the season could benefit the Celtics in the short-term, and with a big postseason performance, Hauser could solidify himself as a keeper.