Sam Hauser's name has come up quite often already this offseason and will likely continue to do so because he is the Boston Celtics most tradeable asset. However, if they pull the trigger on a trade, it would likely be in their efforts to add a game-changer. In other words, they won't trade the sharpshooter just because they can.
If and when Boston trades him, it wouldn't surprise anyone if it's for a big man. ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel floated a three-way deal in which they'd get one. He proposed the following deal between the Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, and Brooklyn Nets.
Celtics get: Daniel Gafford, Bulls second-round pick
Mavericks get: Michael Porter Jr., Day'Ron Sharpe, No. 27 pick, Knicks 2027 first-round pick, 2029 least favorable first-round pick between Mavericks, Rockets, and Suns, 2031 least favorable second-round pick between Celtics and Cavaliers
Nets get: Hauser, Klay Thompson, No. 9 pick, No. 40 pick
As for why, Siegel wrote that, "the Celtics would be adding a big man they've long targeted for the 27th pick, Hauser, and some second-round value."
Gafford is a solid player. As Boston knows, he was the starting center on a team that made the NBA Finals two years ago, but a game-changer? Nah. Hence, a trade like that would breed quite a few questions.
Why would Hauser be included in that deal?
That's a cap-clearing move for the Nets, so why would they bother taking on Hauser's contract? It would appeal more to the Celtics to team up Gafford with Hauser. Boston has a $27.7 million TPE that they can use to absorb Gafford's contract. Wouldn't both they and Brooklyn prefer that Hauser team up with Gafford rather than exchange them?
A devil's advocate would say that they might want to maintain their cap flexibility, but given this year's free agent class not boasting all that much talent, odds are they would likely be happy to take Gafford as their big addition rather than spend it on someone who may not be as impactful.
Boston wants to be the best team they can be next season. If the option were available to get Gafford without trading Hauser, and that were the best option at their disposal, they would likely take that instead of swapping him.
Is Gafford better than Neemias Queta?
Or more specifically, is Gafford that much better to justify paying him as much as Boston would if they got him? Queta is being paid chump change at the moment, which will change after next season, and he's coming off a breakout campaign that put him in the conversation for Most Improved Player.
When you look at the stats, their numbers are pretty much identical, with Queta getting the slight edge. Queta averaged 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks while shooting 65.3% from the field, while Gafford averaged 9.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks while shooting 65.5% from the field.
One could argue that the Celtics could tell themselves that it's beneficial to have two of those players on the team, but shouldn't they be more on the lookout for an upgrade? Gafford is a solid player who isn't overpaid, but it's likely the Celtics would trade Hauser in the hopes of getting a big man better than Queta, not around the same level.
Does Gafford vault them back to title contention?
Here's the most important question. If Boston gets Gafford, they improve along the margins to the point that if he had been on last year's team, they would have beaten the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round. But that's not the bar the Celtics have set for themselves.
They want Banner 19, not to make it to the second round. For the record, Dallas acquired him back in 2024 because they wanted more frontcourt depth while also already having enough firepower across the roster to go on a finals run. The Celtics don't have that right now.
Their aim should be to get game-changers that impact both sides of the floor. Gafford is more a cherry on top than he is the whipped cream or the chocolate sauce in an ice cream sundae. The funny thing is, so is Hauser. Those guys bring something to a title team, but they are far from the most crucial ingredient.
It's definitely possible the Celtics will chase a center this offseason (it will depend on if their Greek Freak pursuit will succed or not), but Gafford seems like a band-aid, especially if he'll cost primarily Hauser.
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