Surging second-unit sniper is only Boston Celtics bench untouchable in trade

Sam Hauser is the only untouchable in any trade proposal on the Boston Celtics' bench according to YardBarker's Adam Taylor -- who then gave everyone else on the C's bench a "fair game" assessment.

"Regardless of what direction Stevens goes in, the Celtics will have some tough decisions to make," Taylor prefaced before saying, "Right now, the only bench player who would likely be untouchable is Hauser. Everyone else is likely to be fair game."

Taylor doesn't see Boston having a need on the wing at all -- which is a fair stance considering Hauser is filling the limited playing-time need behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown that Joe Mazzulla will need in the playoffs -- but instead thinks the biggest question the Celtics front office needs to answer is whether a big or a guard is most necessary on this roster.

"Finding a way to bolster their bench rotation will be essential if the Celtics have genuine aspirations of becoming NBA champions at the end of the season," Taylor prefaced before saying, "The bigger question is whether they look to bolster the guard or center position."

Sam Hauser saving the Boston Celtics' second unit shooting numbers

Featuring one of the greatest starting lineups of all time on paper, Boston was always going to be a team heavily reliant on Tatum, Brown, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, and Kristaps Porzingis. But if Hauser wasn't scorching nets to the tune of 45% 3-point shooting on over six attempts per game, the C's second unit would be one of the easiest in the league to write off completely.

Of course, Al Horford's 35+% shooting isn't included since he is essentially a sixth starter when one of the others is missing. Porzingis's calf injury has forced him to be the starter since November 24.

But Payton Pritchard's sub-32% long-range shooting, coupled with sub-30% rates from Svi Mykhailiuk (28.6%), Dalano Banton (14.3%), and Oshae Brissett (11.1%), is making life harder for Mazzulla when the starters sit.

Hauser has solidified his standing with the Celtics in a major way this offseason. Without him, there'd be no shooting to speak off Boston's bench.