Boston Celtics sharpshooter Sam Hauser was expected to take a step forward in 2025-26. With injuries and departures clearing up space in the rotation, Hauser was a prime candidate to secure an uptick in playing time as the Celtics scrambled for ways to overcome a summer of change.
Unfortunately, Hauser is on pace to average fewer minutes for a second consecutive season despite the door seemingly swinging wide open earlier in the campaign.
Hauser has appeared in all 31 of the Celtics' games this season. He's currently averaging 21.6 minutes per contest. That's down ever so slightly from the 21.7 he played in 2024-25, which was already a minor decrease from the 22.0 he received in 2023-24.
With Hauser shooting a career-worst 37.1 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from beyond the arc, it could be a simple matter of Joe Mazzulla waiting for the sharpshooter to rediscover his form.
Hauser averaged 24.2 minutes per game in October, when he shot at a clip of .423/.438/1.000. His playing time dipped to 21.5 minutes per contest when he shot .310/.275/.500 in November, which seemingly supports the idea that he's an efficient jumper away from more minutes.
Unfortunately, Hauser is averaging even fewer minutes in December at 20.5 despite rediscovering his outside shot with a slash line of .406/.438/1.000—thus suggesting he's a more viable trade piece than some might've expected.
Sam Hauser's declining minutes suggest he's attainable in potential trade
Boston is currently allowing 115.0 points per 100 possessions when Hauser is on the court and 110.8 when he isn't. He hasn't been outright bad on defense, as he ranks in the 69th percentile in ball screen navigation and the 74th percentile in off-ball chaser defense.
Unfortunately, Hauser has been routinely exploited in isolation, as he ranks in the 32nd percentile in perimeter isolation defense, per Basketball Index.
It's imperative to note that Hauser is a proven sharpshooter who has never shot below 41.6 percent from beyond the arc across a full season. As such, November should be taken as an outlier. By that same token, Hauser has been a quality team defender in previous seasons.
With that in mind, it's entirely possible that he'll bounce back from a tough start, continue to shoot the lights out, and even defend at a higher level.
It simply can't be overstated how drastically different the Celtics' roster is now than it was in 2024-25. Jrue Holiday was an elite defender helping to anchor the perimeter, while Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis offered significant value down low.
With all three, as well as all-world two-way ace Jayson Tatum, removed from the equation, it's fair to question if patience is the path the Celtics will embrace.
Thankfully, Sam Hauser can rewrite Celtics narrative with his play
Having established the change in circumstances, it's at least worth pondering if Hauser simply isn't in the ideal situation to perform at his best. At 28 years of age, it's also reasonable to question if he's reached the upper limits of his potential or if there's still another level he can leap to.
Moreover, it may be time to consider the possibility that Hauser will be traded if the Celtics find a player who's a better fit for the current rotation.
Hauser's saving grace may be that he's still paid appropriately for his role and playing time at four years and $45 million. For better or worse, that may also be the reason he's ultimately moved, as his salary can facilitate a deal for a starting-caliber contributor who may receive more minutes in Boston.
It'd be difficult to see a player as respected and valuable as Hauser traded, but the Celtics' approach to his playing time seems to signal that he's by no means untouchable in trade talks.