5 Moves the Boston Celtics should make after the 2024 NBA Draft
By Tyler Watts
4. Lock in Sam Hauser
Hauser played a key role as a floor spacer off the bench for Boston. He averaged 9.0 points and 3.5 rebounds in 22.0 minutes per game during the regular season. The 26-year-old’s playing time dropped to 15 minutes each night in the playoffs, but the Celtics needed that depth.
Hauser is set to make just over $2 million next season and is extension-eligible. The franchise wants to get a fresh contract done, and it is even more important under the new CBA.
Boston will be over the second tax apron for the foreseeable future. Spending that much puts significant restrictions on what the front office can do to add to their roster. They cannot take more money than they send out in a trade. The Celtics are limited to minimum signings in free agency and will see their draft picks moved to the end of the first round if they keep spending.
Convincing Sam Hauser to stay is a must if Boston wants to have depth. They cannot afford to give him a massive contract, but working out a similar deal to the one Payton Pritchard signed would be advantageous for both sides. Hauser gets millions, and the Celtics have a sharpshooter to play off their bench for the next half-decade.