The Boston Celtics may have to repeat the Jrue Holiday trade with Sam Hauser this offseason. They sent a key piece of the title roster packing for Anfernee Simons in the 2025 offseason to save money this year and long-term. The $4.7 million reduction allowed Boston to avoid the luxury tax. They also dumped the final three years and $104.4 million on Holiday’s contract for Simons’ expiring. The Celtics are back in a similar spot and eager to shake things up after a disappointing first-round playoff exit.
The Celtics want to stay under the tax again to avoid repeater penalties. They currently have $187.7 million committed to 14 players, with the line sitting at $201 million. Boston doesn’t plan to bring back Nikola Vucevic, so they have $13.3 million of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception to add the final piece. If Brad Stevens wants more room, he will have to trim the payroll.
Boston is only trading Jaylen Brown for another superstar. They want to keep Jayson Tatum and Derrick White. If the Big 3 is locked in, the Celtics would have to trade Hauser to save money. Fans know his on-court limitations, and this could play out exactly how the Holiday deal did last year.
Celtics may follow Jrue Holiday blueprint to trade Sam Hauser
Hauser is set to make $10.8 million next season and has three years left on his contract. The Celtics could look for a cheap expiring contract that saves money over the next three years. Teams want Hauser’s shooting. It would be the same story as Holiday. The Celtics take an on-court downgrade to save millions of dollars.
It was painful to see Holiday go. He played a key role in the 2024 championship and didn’t want to leave Boston. The second apron era makes every dollar count, and the Celtics could not maintain their spending. Stevens traded Kristaps Porzingis and let Al Horford and Luke Kornet walk in free agency. Boston had to make even more moves at the deadline to dodge the tax. It was painful, and the Celtics want to avoid the repeater by staying under this year.
There are options available. Boston could look for a defensive upgrade by trading for Kris Dunn or target a Marcus Sasser or Miles McBride type. It is all about finding the right trade that doesn’t cost draft capital or may even net Boston some.
The Celtics would love to have the full non-taxpayer mid-level and some roster space to add on the minimum market in free agency. Their top priority is sorting out the center rotation, but Boston also needs more depth and shot creation. Fans know Stevens will turn over every stone. It is all about finding the right moves to accomplish all of the franchise’s goals.
Brad Stevens showed the plan last summer when he flipped Jrue Holiday for Anfernee Simons' expiring contract. When the Celtics needed to save more, he sent Simons packing for Nikola Vucevic at the deadline. He could easily do the same with Sam Hauser and will if Boston has a path to upgrade their roster in free agency.
The Boston Celtics must add talent this summer, while staying under the luxury tax. If they keep Tatum, Brown, and White, their only path to saving money is trading Sam Hauser. Do not be surprised when it happens.
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