Celtics draft potential Sam Hauser replacement in Baylor Scheierman: Reaction and analysis
As Spotrac's Keith Smith relays, the Boston Celtics may have drafted their long-term replacement of Sam Hauser in the rotation if he becomes too costly in the 2025 offseason with the No. 30 selection of Creighton's Baylor Scheierman.
"Love the Baylor Scheierman pick for the Celtics," Smith prefaced before saying, "That's cover in case things go sideways with Sam Hauser. And he can do some stuff as a ballhandler and passer too."
Scheierman is a do-it-all power forward who shot 38% from beyond the arc who has much more passing and rebounding skills than the somewhat one-sided Hauser. As SI's Chris Mannix proclaimed, he's as NBA-ready as a prospect gets and has a shot at cracking Joe Mazzulla's rotation during the 2024-25 season.
Boston Celtics make perhaps one of their only offseason additions in NBA draft's first round
There were rumors that Brad Stevens could flip the C's first-round pick for a veteran big man, but ultimately, the front office stuck with their guns and used their first-round pick for the first time since Stevens became the team's President of Basketball Operations.
Scheierman could end up being the only significant addition the Celtics make this offseason. The team's starting lineup is about to be locked down long-term with Jayson Tatum and Derrick White due extensions, and they'll join Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, and Kristaps Porzingis as guys with more than a year left on their deals. Payton Pritchard is the second unit's leader, and he's got four more years under contract. Hauser and Al Horford have one year left on their deals.
After those players is a slew of role players who could be re-signed to minimum deals; perhaps even non-guaranteed ones. Stevens may not try to fix what isn't broken and decide to bring back every player beyond the top eight after winning Banner 18.
That makes Sheierman potentially the offseason highlight in Boston. And that could be just fine given how good the team's top eight is.